Subject: Internal Combustion Engine Motorcycles in the ACFL -Council 03/16/26 Public Hearing on the ACFL Forest Plan
From: Mark B. Nihart
Internal Combustion Engine Motorcycles (Motorcycles) should be banned from the ACFL.
The Forest Advisory Board (FAB) and Parks eliminated the summer Hydroplane Races on Heart Lake. Later they eliminated use of internal combustion engines on Heart Lake (and other ACFL lakes). This greatly protected the wildlife on the lake and surrounding the lake from damaging noise. Now is the time to eliminate motorcycles from the ACFL. In addition, Class 1,2 and 3 e-bikes are available to motorcycle riders who still want to “ride” trails in the ACFL. The ACFL is not a training ground for young unlicensed riders to sharpen their motorcycle motocross skills.
The powerful motorcycles are a physical threat to hikers, horses and mountain bikers.
Motorcycles emitting up to 100 decibels negatively affect both wildlife and people recreating in the ACFL. It is also difficult to enforce noise levels on exhausts and it is relatively easy to modify exhaust systems.
The Forest Plan (FP) did not cite “best available science” for allowing motorcycles in the ACFL although the FP is supposed to be using “best available science.” The Forest Advisory Board and Parks did not produce any studies saying 100 or 90 or 80 decibel motorcycles do not have a negative effect on wildlife and humans during the public comment period. During the public comment period no experts on noise and wildlife were made available to the FAB, Parks and the Public to consult with regarding the negative impact of noise to wildlife.
Motorcycles are the worst offenders of trail damage even in the “dry months” they are allowed. The Forest Plan does not cite “best available science” regarding allowing trail damage from motorcycles.
Per Parks statements, motorcycles continue to be the worst offenders of incorrect trail use and riding during restricted months. The Anacortes Police Department has yet to develop a full Comprehensive Plan on how they will enforce ordinances of the ACFL with limited resources some of which will now be patrolling Fidalgo Bay.
The public was not informed the Forest Plan would be the ACFL section of the Comprehensive Plan. Thus, the whole process used to create the current plan needs to restart to ensure all the processes and procedures required that regulate the Comprehensive Plan such as the Growth Management Act (GMA) for public comments and the declaration any Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) process and procedures are followed BEFORE the plan is made available to Council for a vote. And all the connections to other parts of the Comprehensive Plan need to be clearly identified and correct.
The Forest Plan in its current harmful recreation first versus protection of nature first with limited low-impact human recreation should have an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) done so all parties have a full understanding of the impact of human recreation in the ACFL. The FP would need to be updated to reflect the findings of the EIS before being sent to Council.
Allowing motorcycles in the ACFL clearly does not reflect the desire of the overwhelming number of public commenters. Commenters want Nature over Recreation.
Respectfully,
Mark B. Nihart
Anacortes Resident
