Union County reaffirms MERA closure, citing safety concerns
By Garrett Christensen on Wednesday, January 24th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
UNION COUNTY – Over the past week, Union County has continued to receive comments from the public over the decision to close the Owsley Canyon Trailhead area of the Mount Emily Recreation Area (MERA) during forestry operations. Public comments range from minor confusion over the specific closure timeline to protesting the need to close MERA given current conditions. Union County has issued several statements on the closure and offered reasons as to its need, mainly due to safety concerns over forestry operations, but some debate continues.
In response to recent enquiries, Union County Parks Coordinator Josh Ford reaffirmed the county’s decision and the need to keep the Owsley Canyon trailhead closed for the time being, stating:
“The closure of the forest management area as well as the Owsley Canyon trailhead will remain in effect while forestry operations occur. Activities such as road and equipment maintenance are being continued outside the culturally sensitive areas on MERA’s “all-weather routes”. Additionally, trails within the closed area are not safe for public use at this time. Trail conditions do not meet construction and maintenance standards outlined in MERA’s master plan due to hazards such as a variable trail surface, downed trees, brush, and snags.”
Ford further assured members of the public that the county and contractors are working to resolve all safety and access issues as allowed by soil and weather conditions. Once current operations have concluded, all closed trails will be assessed and reopened. As a further clarification, MERA is not completely closed, as Igo Lane and the Fox Hill Staging Area remain open.
The latest official updates and closure maps for MERA can be found at https://www.meetmera.org/general-8
