City Council Position 3
Dylan Bloom
Thank you for reaching out and for the important work you do to maintain and expand the trail network in the Rogue Valley. It’s a privilege to answer these questions, and I greatly appreciate the opportunity to share my vision for Ashland’s future in supporting outdoor recreation, especially in our watershed.
Eric Navickas
What is your personal experience in the watershed and its trail network?
Dylan
I have lived in Ashland for 20 years, and during that time, I’ve spent countless hours in the watershed, hiking and enjoying the trails, though I am not a mountain biker myself. Even though I’m not personally involved in mountain biking, I understand and appreciate the immense value the sport and the trail network bring to our community, both in terms of recreation and economic benefit.
Eric
I have extensive knowledge of the Ashland Creek Watershed and its trail, road, and helicopter pad network. I have also hiked both main forks of Ashland Creek above Reeder Reservoir and Weasel Creek as well as back country hiking and snowshoeing throughout much of the remote areas of the Ashland Creek Watershed.
How do you see the role of outdoor recreation in our local economy and what specifically, if anything, would you propose the city do to foster it?
Dylan
Outdoor recreation plays a critical role in Ashland’s economy. It brings in tourism, supports local businesses, and provides a healthy, sustainable way for residents and visitors to engage with the natural beauty of our area. I believe outdoor recreation, particularly mountain biking, can help diversify Ashland’s economy. With Ashland already highly rated for its trails, we should be promoting the city as a destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Additionally, as someone with a young family, I see the need for more activities and attractions that cater to families like mine. Expanding our outdoor recreation offerings, including trails and family-friendly spaces, can make Ashland even more attractive to young families who want to enjoy an active, outdoor lifestyle.
To foster this, I propose focused marketing efforts, creating partnerships with organizations like RVMBA to host events, and ensuring the city invests in maintaining and expanding trail infrastructure as part of our broader tourism strategy
Eric
Recent research done through the Ashland Chamber of Commerce has demonstrated that Ashland is seeing an uptick in visitors seeking outdoor recreation activities. We have many regional opportunities including mountain biking, river rafting, hiking, butterfly excursions in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, downhill and x-country skiing on Mt. Ashland, Mt. Lakes and trail systems, sailing and sailboarding, etc.
I believe the Ashland City Council should be working with the Chamber of Commerce to promote Ashland as a tourist destination and hub for these outdoor adventure recreational opportunities.
What is your position on expanding the mountain bike and hiking trail network on City land? If you support an increase in trails, how specifically would you work to accomplish this?
Dylan
I fully support expanding the trail network on City land. Beyond recreational benefits, expanded trails improve access to our natural areas and serve as an important resource for families and visitors. As someone who sees the value of creating more opportunities for outdoor activities for all ages, including young families, I believe expanding trails is a crucial part of building a stronger, healthier community.
To accomplish this, I would work with organizations like RVMBA, the Parks Department, and other stakeholders to ensure that trail expansion and maintenance are a priority in our city budget. I would also advocate for pursuing state and federal grants dedicated to outdoor recreation infrastructure and work to encourage community-driven efforts to support these projects.
Eric
As a city councilor, it is important to balance interests and recognize risks. There are three major concerns in relation to the Ashland Creek Watershed and surrounding watersheds, fire, erosion, and landslide mass wastage events. Forest Supervisors with the U.S. Forest Service have consistently stated that recreational use in the Ashland Creek watershed should be a low priority because of these associated risks of human activity to exacerbate these problems.
Reeder Reservoir, our drinking water reservoir, is listed under the Clean Water Act as Water Quality Limited due to sedimentation and this problem continues. A storm event two years ago required the city to utilize the TAP line during the winter months because the water treatment plant couldn't address the turbidity levels.
Of course, you are asking about city lands that are below Reeder Reservoir with some in the Ashland Creek Drainage while others in the Roca, Tolman and Hamilton Creek drainages. A similar situation exists in these drainages. During the 1997 flood, Hamilton Creek flooded the Ashlander Apartments, leaving the lower floors filled with decomposed granite and other debris. These are all steep drainages where landsliding has been a serious issue.
Decomposed granite which is the predominant soil type is extremely erosive with almost zero cohesion. Forest duff is critical to protecting these soils and preventing erosion and associated landsliding. Mountain bike trails remove protective duff layer, cause compaction, and can intensify channelization and hydrological activity during storm events. Until one has witnessed the volatility of these flood events like we have seen in 1964, 1974, and 1997 due to wintertime warm rain on top of snow, it is difficult to understand the seriousness of these issues.
The issue of fire risk is also very authentic and usually associated with increased human activity. I understand that locals may be very cognizant of these issues, however, reckless tourists present risks. We recently saw the Almeda Fire and the potential devastation fire presents. A fire in the Ashland Creek watershed will create long term issues through exacerbating the existing sedimentation problems that have resulted in the Water Quality Limited status for our drinking water reservoir. I have to defer to the consistent position of our Forest Supervisors to make recreational use a low priority for the Ashland Creek drainage and surrounding forest lands.
As a councilor, I will work to limit risks and tightly regulate mountain biking in the Ashland Watershed and trail construction. Ashland already has a trail system that can accomodate needs. The City does own the Imperatrice property across the freeway that may offer opportunities for trail development. The road system throughout Forest Service lands also offers opportunities.
What else would you like us to know regarding your goals if you are elected?
Dylan
If elected, my goal is to make Ashland a more sustainable, vibrant, and affordable place to live while preserving the natural assets that make this town special. My priorities focus on three main areas: community safety, economic stability, and inclusivity.
Community Safety: I am committed to supporting our watershed work, reducing wildfire risks, and improving infrastructure to keep our trails safe and accessible for everyone. I strongly support Ashland Fire and Rescue and the single-role EMS program to ensure our emergency services are well-equipped to serve our community’s needs. I also advocate for strategic urban planning that balances growth with the need to preserve our natural areas and avoid sprawl, helping to protect the beautiful landscape we all enjoy.
Economic Stability: I believe we must diversify Ashland’s economy to ensure long-term prosperity. This means going beyond relying solely on tourism and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival by focusing on outdoor recreation and attracting businesses in light manufacturing and small-batch production. Supporting our downtown hub and creating opportunities in South Ashland will help us build a resilient economic base. My comprehensive economic plan emphasizes the need to make Ashland a more attractive place for families and young professionals to live, work, and thrive.
Inclusivity and Affordability: As a renter and someone with a young family, I understand the housing challenges facing many in our community. I will continue to advocate for policies like the Housing Production Strategy to create attainable housing for all Ashlanders. I am committed to using every available tool from the State of Oregon to address housing affordability and to ensure Ashland is accessible to all income levels. My approach also involves supporting homelessness services and ensuring investments in programs that provide rehabilitation, job training, and life skills development to those in need.
Expanding outdoor recreation, including our trail network, fits into my broader vision for Ashland—where community members can enjoy a high quality of life, engage in healthy activities, and feel proud of their city. I am passionate about making Ashland a place where residents of all ages can thrive, and where our natural assets continue to be a source of pride and enjoyment for generations to come.
Thank you again for reaching out. I look forward to working with RVMBA and the community to continue making Ashland an outstanding place for mountain biking and outdoor recreation.
Eric
My goal is to see Ashland succeed and become an economically prosperous city. Recreation is a critical element of this goal and I will work to promote this facet of our economy.
One of my big goals is to move forward with a downtown planning effort. Our Downtown Plan, an element of the Comprehensive Plan, has not been updated since 1989. This planning effort will look comprehensively at multiple factors affecting our downtown including parking, traffic flows and bike lanes, housing, zoning regulations, events planning, signage and street furniture, etc. By bringing together stakeholders in focused meetings and the broader community in discussion groups, we can develop a plan that focuses on reinvigorating our downtown and finding opportunities for economic growth.
I look forward to working with your organization toward providing input and finding ways to collaborate toward common goals. I will maintain a principled stance toward balance of risks and protection of our resources but I do believe that we have many common interests and I will do my best to ensure all have a voice in our discussions. Thank you for your interest in reaching out.