Jones Beach Restriction?

wylieflyote · Sun May 12, 13 7:09 am

If you'd like another quieter option to sleeping at Jones Beach, there is a very nice campground in Clatskanie (about 6 miles east of Jones). It has water supply hook-ups for RVs, clean bathrooms (no showers), nicely manicured lawns, fire pits, and a camp host. I prefer this to Jones camping as I can get up in the morning and walk to my morning jolt of espresso, and breakfast too. Cost: $5 per night:
http://www.freeguidetonwcamping.com/oregon_washington_main/Oregon/Portland_Area/Clatskanie_City_Park.htm

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

Weaz · Since 23 May 2012 360 Posts Beaverton Obsessed

I'm sure this started from the reckless ATV, Dirt bike, and sandrail people on the beach. I've seen them hitting 50+ mph near people on the beach, sand blasting peoples vehicles, and jumping the lip without knowing what was on the other side.

Just like any other thing a few bad apples can ruin the whole thing.

As kiters TRY your hardest to make the place better than when you came and resepct the other beach users.

Anthony · Since 07 Oct 2008 362 Posts Salem Obsessed **CGKA Member**

I have worked with access in whitewater kayaking in the Salem area, so I am experienced in dealing with the access issue. The issues you have Jones Beach are similar to other accesses issues.

I have listened to all the audio meeting, about 3 hours long. Before you write your letter, please take the time to listen, it will give you good insight.

Meeting 1: There is quite a lot trespassing, damage and toilet use of private property. These local people have reached the end of line. They are tired of the area being used a toilet is the Number One Issue! They would like toilets installed at Jones Beach. It is being looked into. All the local land owners have a problem with the ATV noise. This not just a few people. All the area people want some change!! Most of the camping is done on private property. Ouch! The area is not delineated for property lines(fence). I have not kited there yet, but from what I have heard kiters will not want them putting up fences. That could interfere with kiting according with what I have heard at the meeting from a land owner. A few kiters have parked on private property. Scott was good about it, sounded liked he would with work kiters. He does not want to fence his property. There is private land, Department of State Lands and Oregon Fish and Wildlife Land in the Jones Beach Area which can make it complicated. When the tide is up there is not much public land available according to the map.
The police have noted that is a hard area to control without laws to enforce and they do have problems out there. The 10pm to 5am closure is standard through State Parks and Land.

The problems at the beach have been around for a long time.
Accord to testimony ATV’s provide little to the economy.
It sounds like DSL will try to get toilets installed.

Put forward. Eliminate ATV’s – period. Have a no use time from 10pm to 5am, which is standard closing time for state parks. This is easier for the police to enforce.

Meeting 2: Fishing people are living at the beach and not leaving for long periods of time (weeks). Jones Beach used a toilet. State Police need rules posted to enforce policies. Way too noisy at night. Most of people are camping on private property adjoining Jones Beach. Horses cannot go to beach because of the ATV’s. Need a rule so disabled people can get down to the water. ATV’s causing lots of damage and creating erosion. Drinking is a big issue, with drunkenness. The Beach is out of control, theft, all night partying, etc.

Conclusion:
From my experience, Kiters might need to look at it from positive position approach. Work with the rules proposed. The planned rules are not different from what have been proposed in other parts of the state. You do not want to be viewed at a negative person. Leave that to ATV people. After listening through the meeting audio the proposed rules are most likely the only way to keep the place from being closed in the future. Kiters are not their enemy! ATV’s are the biggest issue as is lack of toilets and overnight camping. The local people just want make the nice place like it used to be. It is so bad now, they will not even use it. That speaks for itself. Let them know as a kiter how you help the local economy. Push for toilets! If you go to the meeting please have good attitudes, it goes along way. If you are a kiter and disagree with what they’re doing, that is ok. But please do it in a civilized manner.

Anthony

OG · Since 07 Jun 2011 599 Posts Addicted

Thx anthony, that is really good info.

BeerKite · Since 29 Mar 2011 471 Posts Obsessed

Thanks for sharing the information you found. This is definitely something the kiting community needs to get right. If we can go in with a positive message and convince them that we are stewards of the beach and river, I think that would be our best bet. I would like to find out where these property lines are so that we can keep ourselves legit. Maybe some well publicized beach clean ups could help our cause? I would hate to see Jones closed down.

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

Thanks Anthony.

Jones is a very important site for a lot of kiters. I hit that place up more than any other place during the summer.

Not sure the best way to handle this situation.

If people are parking on private property we need to know about it. Can we get an aerial view of where people are parking on private property? We can police ourselves in that respect.

If the locals are the people pushing to get rid of the ATV people then its important we make nice with the locals so we don't get kicked off to. Because if the locals have enough clout to get the ATV people kicked off Jones then they will have more than enough clout to get our sorry asses banned.

Pepi · Mon May 13, 13 11:59 pm

Excellent information Anthony.
I haven't used Jones in a couple of years, but for a while I regularly kited and windsurfed there from the 90's and until a few years ago. (I too have had more than a few midnight redneck van attacks while camping there, nothing violent, but very loud and uncomfortable).
It has long had the atv/fishing issues that these people are complaining about, and whether it has just been a long time coming, or new property owners are needing a change, it sounds like people are ready for a change.

If someone can take the lead on finding the right stance for the kite community to support without losing the most ground, or future access, it would be a start in the right direction.

From a CGKA standpoint, at the Board of Directors meeting tonite, we discussed and agreed that the CGKA would like to find a way to help support the local kite community in this situation.
We have selected a representative to contact Nate and any other persons like yourself who can fill in any additional specific details.

Please do your best to keep this posting refreshed with as many details as possible that are relevant to the situation.

wylieflyote · Tue May 14, 13 6:04 am

Agree with Pepi. Please someone post an aerial map as soon as we know the propery lines. I have always parked on the asphalt slab, but that's only because I don't have all-wheel drive. I wonder if that earlier turn-out/kite-launch, 200 yards west, is on private land?

JeffT · Since 07 Jul 2012 238 Posts Deep Southern Portland Stoked

You can see the property lines if you zoom in via google maps using the 'Map' view and not the 'Satellite' view. http://goo.gl/maps/Op2va
Click back and forth between map and satellite views to get a better idea. Not sure how old this satellite image is.

OG · Since 07 Jun 2011 599 Posts Addicted

If i had to guess on the private land part, and i realize that my guess is worth nothing, Id bet its the stuff that is near the road. But fershur, a map detailing where to go/where not to could help lots.

wylieflyote · Tue May 14, 13 9:44 am

Sorry for this stupid question, but... do you think the greyish lines on the google maps are property lines? If this is so, then the west end launch I referred to would become off limits? The asphalt slab, and beach on front is on public lands.

Anthony · Since 07 Oct 2008 362 Posts Salem Obsessed **CGKA Member**

You need to go to the county assessors office or web site. Columbia county from what I can tell. Clatsop county line is just west of beach.

http://www.ormap.net/flexviewer/index.html

It does not work with my iPhone.

JeffT · Since 07 Jul 2012 238 Posts Deep Southern Portland Stoked

Thanks for that link Anthony. Here is a pic from that site:

Pepi · Tue May 14, 13 12:02 pm

Ok, now someone needs to take the lead on this to compile this mapping information along with the property lines and trying to fill in who owns what properties so that you can determine who lives where and who owns what.

If you can then contact the property owners concerned with the situation and then give them the 'kiting is a healthy and clean activity for Jones' sales pitch, along with an offer to host some annual or bi-annual beach clean ups, along with posting some user guidelines signage up at the parking lot.
These are some simple tasks and might get the property owners more stoked about kiterboarders using and maintaining the area, as well as supporting/protecting kiter access in this area.

By doing this, you could also try to slip in the idea of maintaining jetski launch access in this area specifically for safety purposes to assist both windsport users and fishermen, or anyone who is in need.

Who's a local that will be attending these meetings?

kochease · Since 03 Jul 2008 760 Posts In Ft. Stevens, OR Opinionated

Pepi thanks for the solid advice and I dont want to go in guns blazing, my expierence I have learned thats not the best approach. I had just learned of this last friday and have not had a chance to dig into it deeper after saturday night. been too much work demanding my attention.

Anthony great job with the research and the time you dedicated to studying up on this situation. I will be putting together some notes and points to discuss with the land management this week. I think it would be great to have some pointers from people who have dealt with sort of stuff before.

Outhouse is a huge concern and I was working on having one put out thier this month at my expense. Ofcourse I was going to lock it so only kiters could use it but maybe now we can get the state to help out. I would be in support of fundraising and donating to a permanent bathroom at jones. Debating if I should bring that up at the meeting.

I will be attending the meeting, hopefully someof you will as well, be great to show the kiting community in a positive active light.

The issues I have had with the outhouse has been property lines. I've made a couple attempts to contact home owners seeking permission to place on the edge of their property and possibly pay them a rent fee or other such stuff but no one has been home on days I have been out to jones and had time to talk to them. Would prefer to have one on west end of beach where we all kite.