There is a dense smoke advisory over most of the Mother Lode Trails coverage area. If you are hiking or riding and can see and smell the smoke, particulates can be drawn into your lungs when your exercise. The same for your dogs and horses.
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To see where the smoke is now, check out the California Smoke Info page.

In honor of Veterans Day, California State Parks will give military members a free day at more than half of its parks.
Veterans, active duty and reserve military members will get free admission to 144 state parks Monday, as announced in a news release by the state Department of Parks and Recreation. The participating parks are the 134 on the “California Explorer” annual pass list, (this link is for a clear PDF of all State Parks) eight vehicular recreation areas.
Other sites near Sacramento include include Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park, Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area and Auburn State Recreation area.
Qualifying military members must show a valid military ID to get free admission.
California State Parks have been allowed to offer free or reduced-price admission to veterans and military personnel thanks to Assembly Bill 150, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2013.
California is home to 280 state parks.

CLICK HERE to read the original article in the Sacramento Bee newspaper.

It has been reported that several horse trailers and vehicles have been broken into at Spenceville Wildlife Area. In one incident, the thieves cut out the trailer's lock and stole tack and tools. In others, saddles, tools and other items were stolen. So far, these incidents were when the victims were away on the trail and parked at the cattle chutes area.

When you  are hiking or riding,  leave nothing of value in your vehicle or trailer.

Sierra College and the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) have teamed up for a presentation on meadow restoration, stemming from a study performed by the league, according to a Sierra College news release. (photo of Loney Meadow)
SYRCL's work to restore Yuba headwater meadows has been driven by the desire to answer questions about how restoration efforts benefit meadow ecosystems. In partnership with the Tahoe National Forest, the league implemented a meadow restoration project at Loney Meadow in 2017.

Starting in 2014, SYRCL implemented a before, after, control, impact design to understand how vegetation, groundwater and surface hydrology, carbon, greenhouse gases and aquatic species would be impacted by the restoration project. This talk will provide an overview of the league's restoration goals, monitoring efforts and provide initial results from the hydrology, vegetation, and carbon monitoring. 
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Rachel Hutchinson will lead the talk from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 13, in the Multipurpose Center, building N-12, at the Sierra College Nevada County Campus. A meet-and-greet and refreshments will be available at 6 p.m.
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Hutchinson is the River Science Director at The South Yuba River Citizens League. Her work is focused on conservation, restoration, monitoring, dam relicensing and education programs, according to the release. Since joining the league in 2013, she has focused on implementing data driven restoration projects at both the headwaters and in the lower Yuba River that allow for the quantification of restoration benefits.
The Nevada County Campus is located at 250 Sierra College Drive, in Grass Valley. Parking is $3, and permits are available at the kiosk machine at the main entrance to the campus.
For more information, contact the series coordinator Jason Giuliani at jgiuliani@sierracollege.edu

​To see the original article and photos in The Union newspaper, CLICK HERE.

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Another sure sign of winter’s pending arrival came Friday, when the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit announced it is beginning to close recreational facilities for the season.
The closures apply to many beaches, campgrounds, picnic areas and forest roads in the Tahoe Basin.
Campgrounds, day-use areas and beaches on National Forest lands managed by Tahoe Recreation, a division of California Land Management, closed on Oct. 14.
These include: the campgrounds at Bayview, Fallen Leaf, Kaspian, Meeks Bay, Nevada Beach and William Kent, and the  day-use areas and beaches at Baldwin, Kaspian, Meeks Bay, Nevada Beach, Pope and William Kent.
Blackwood Canyon, Luther Pass and Watson Lake campgrounds close on Nov. 15. Zephyr Cove Resort Campground remains open year-round. For a complete list of site closure dates, click here.
The Taylor Creek Visitor Center and Kiva Picnic Area are open daily through Oct. 28.
The Tallac Historic Site closed for the season at the end of September.
The Forest Service warns that bears are very active in the Taylor Creek area this time of year.
“Keep your distance from bears, leave food and other scented items at home, stay on the trails and help protect bear habitat and salmon eggs by not entering Taylor Creek,” the Forest Service says.
Forest roads typically begin closing in mid-November. Click here for specific forest road closing dates.
Although facilities on National Forest lands at Lake Tahoe close for winter, the grounds and lake access remain open year-round. Services such as water, restrooms and trash collection are not available during the winter season.
“When accessing these areas in the winter, be sure to pack out your garbage, park legally and do not block closed gates,” the Forest Service says.  

CLICK HERE to see the original article and photos in the Tahoe Daily Tribune Newspaper.

ORANGEVALE -- Repairs along a popular stretch of trail on the Orangevale side of Lake Natoma may take longer than expected now that a couple of bald eagles have returned to the area.
Heavy rains last winter sent soil and boulders crashing down onto the popular hiking and biking trail within the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. Many joggers and cyclists have been going around the posted warning signs and barriers, climbing over the rocks and landslide debris, frustrated that it all hasn't been removed from the trail.
Repairs have been taking some time because of the environmental sensitivity of the area. The repair process involves both state and federal environmental reviews and geotechnical surveys of the soil before the heavy lifting can begin.
The presence of bald eagles now adds to the delay.
Observers say the eagle pair started building a nest at Lake Natoma last week.
According to the state park, the eagles have been there before. They had eaglets, and when the youngsters left the nest over the summer, the parents flew off.
Now that the federally-protected birds are back building a new nest, it would be illegal to do anything to disturb them. That's why bringing in heavy machinery to move boulders is off the table for the time being.
State Park Superintendent Rich Preston looks on the bright side, seeing the birds' presence as a privilege.
"Yeah, absolutely, I think it's a great asset," Preston told FOX40. "And we'll continue to build that population of eagles here locally."
Preston said environmental reviews and geotechnical studies may still move forward.
"There may be some buffers that we'll have to stay away from in the area where the eagles are at," Preston explained. "But we should be able to do some of the work further away from the eagles."
With the bald eagles nesting in the area, the noisy clearing of the path likely will not happen until next summer. In the meantime, Preston is asking visitors to be quiet and respectful, "ensuring that the public steers clear of the nest when it's active so that we don't lose this opportunity in the future."

CLICK HERE to see original article on Fox 40 News

This sent to us by Gold Country Trails Council (GCTC): On Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, we and Tahoe National Forest will be hosting the Annual United Trails Day, in coordination with BONC, YBONC and the Woods Riders. Heads up, there will be approximately 80 of us working on the Towle Mill Trail. Please use another trail that day.
What: United Trails Day on Saturday, Oct 13, 2018
Time: 8:30 am - we’ll break into groups at Skillman and leave by 9 AM.
Meeting Place: Skillman Horse Camp
Work Place: Towle Mill Trail
Lunch: GCTC provides lunch at Skillman
What to bring: Loppers and hand saws
DON'T FORGET CHAIRS!