Road closure east of Prineville prompts concern

A combination of a decades-old clerical error and a disgruntled landowner will result in the closure of a public access road to thousands of acres of federal land on the North Fork of Crooked River.

Prineville Bureau of Land Management officials confirmed Monday that Teaters Road will be closed permanently to public traffic, beginning May 15.

For the past 51 years, the road has been shared publicly and privately through a right-of-way agreement. Teaters Road is approximately 30 miles east of Prineville off the Paulina Highway.

“It’s quite popular with hunters, antler hunters, campers, fishermen and anyone who wants to get up there and visit public land,” said BLM Field Manager Chip Faver.

The announcement comes shortly after landowners in the area — Julie and Brad Waibel — informed BLM that the easement agreement did not cover the entire length of Teaters Road.

Faver said the agency’s own investigation found the Waibels’ review of the contracts was correct.

“I would categorize this as an oversight in that paperwork,” Faver said.

“It is going to be an inconvenience for the public to have to drive further to get to that land,” Faver said. But he added, “It appears the landowner is well within his rights to close access to the public on his piece of ground, and we acknowledge that right, and we want the public to know this is going to have consequence for them.”

Visitors will now have to drive about an hour from Teaters Road to access the roughly 16,000 acres through a Forest Service road on the Ochoco National Forest. The route takes drivers through Prineville on Highway 26, where they can access the land through Big Summit Prairie.

Since the announcement, BLM said it has received dozens of calls from recreation users of the area, upset with the pending closure.

Ron Miller, the former president of the Prineville chapter of the Oregon Hunters Association, told NewsChannel 21 he and others are disappointed with the decision, which also closes a main southern access point to the southern part of the Ochoco National Forest.

“One thing we’re all fighting for is access to our public land, and I hate to see our kids and grandkids lose access like this,” Miller said.

Miller estimates thousands of people use the road during the fall for access to prime hunting opportunities like deer, elk and fowl. He also said recreation uses extend far beyond game.

“It’s not just hunters, it’s people who want to explore,” Miller said. “You’ve got hikers, mountain bikers that like to access this (area) too.”

NewsChannel 21 could not reach the Waibel family for comment. However, they did tell BLM they are tired of public misuse of the road.

A press release sent out by BLM says landowners in the area have experienced “years of trespassing, illegal hunting on private land, poaching, off-road vehicle and ATV damage, illegal antler hunting and littering.”

The Waibels have now installed gates at multiple points of entry onto their road closing off a small connecting section between the Teaters Road entrance and adjoining roads on the other side of the land through Forest Service Road 4225.

Julie Waibel is the granddaughter of the late tire store giant Les Schwab.

Miller said the result will hurt more than just convenience for visitors.

“If the snow levels get high enough in the national forest, this is one of the only access for people to get out of there,” Miller said.

Faver said the landowners are allowing federal and state authorities administrative access on their road. Faver said that will be particularly helpful when wildfire season starts.

BLM is in the process of installing signs warning of the closure at the entrance to Teaters Road.

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Here’s the full BLM news release, issued Monday:

Teaters Road Closure Announced

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Prineville District Office was recently notified that beginning on or before May 15, Teaters Road will be closed to public access (approximately 1.4 miles north of the junction of Teaters Road and State Highway 380 and at two spots five miles to the north where the road “Y’s” and meets BLM land). Teaters Road extends several miles through private land, and the landowners are planning on installing gates on the road to prevent continued misuse of the road by the general public. Multiple landowners in the area have experienced years of trespassing, illegal hunting on private land, poaching, off-road vehicle and ATV damage, illegal antler hunting and littering.

The landowner had previously asked the BLM to close the road due to the abuse by the public; however, the BLM declined as the agency didn’t feel the closure was in the best interest of the public. The landowner was able to proceed with the closure because the BLM’s Right-of-Way (obtained in 1964) did not cover the entire length of Teaters Road.

Teaters Road is approximately 30 miles east of Prineville off State Highway 380 (also known as the Paulina Highway). In addition to providing access to private ranches, the road allows through travel from the highway north through the Ochoco National Forest, and offers one of two points of entry to the BLM-administered North Fork Crooked Wild and Scenic River area. Once the closure is in place, access to the North Fork Crooked River will only be available from the Ochoco National Forest. Visitors must travel south on FS Road 4225 to reach BLM land around.

The local landowners and BLM will work together to inform the public of this change in access. Although local businesses and agencies will be able to retain administrative use for business purposes, the closure will affect hunters, campers and other dispersed recreation users accustomed to accessing the area via Teaters Road. “We understand the frustration this will cause public land users,” said Chip Faver, BLM Field Manager for that area, “however; we respect the rights of the private landowners, particularly when they’re experiencing that kind of damage.”

Signs will be installed at key points on the road at appropriate turn-around points to avoid complications with large vehicles and trailers. BLM will also coordinate with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to inform hunters with tags for that area for fall hunting seasons.

For more information about this closure, please contact the Prineville BLM at (541) 416-6700. You can find more information about the Prineville District at http://on.doi.gov/1CArGLg .