Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows announced it has reached an agreement about the construction of the resort’s base-to-base gondola, spanning 2.2 miles. Approximately 20% of the project will be located on national forest lands, requiring approval from not only the county but from Tahoe National Forest. The forest service approved the gondola in January. ​ The project includes two base terminals and two mid-stations and 33 lift towers. The gondola will begin at Squaw Valley, and end at the Alpine Meadows base area. The eight-passenger gondola would be able to transport up to 1,400 people per hour. (Photo credit: Sierra Sun)
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Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows announced it has reached an agreement with the Granite Chief Wilderness Protection League, which had filed a lawsuit against the construction of the resort’s base-to-base gondola in September.

“What we were trying to do is to make sure that the impact of the gondola will be lessened,” said Patty Schifferle, a member of the Granite Chief WIlderness Protection League Advisory Board.
According to the suit filed, the Protection League believed the gondola would “permanently alter what is now a pristine Sierra Nevada environment” endangering wildlife and destroying the natural habitat. The suit claimed that the project has not undergone adequate environmental review or mitigation in the Environmental Impact Report certified by the county.
The resort agreed to various protection measures for the Sierra Nevada Yellow Legged Frog habitat and the Granite Chief Wilderness Area in exchange for the dismissal of the lawsuit that was filed against Placer County’s approval of the project.
“I think this gives us an opportunity to protect the fabric of our community.”Patty Schifferlem, Granite Chief WIlderness Protection League
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows will conserve approximately 27 acres of the resort’s private property that may serve as a habitat for the Sierra Nevada Yellow Legged Frog, which has since neared extinction in the state due to habitat loss, fish introduction, climate change and disease, according to the Protection League. The resort will also and contribute $50,000 towards the preservation and reintroduction of the species.
The settlement calls for Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows to provide $450,000 to the Truckee Donner Land Trust over the next 10 years to purchase land within and adjacent to the Granite Chief Wilderness Area, according to Liesl Hepburn.
“I think this gives us an opportunity to protect the fabric of our community. We’re pretty lucky to have a place like Granite Chief Wilderness,” said Schifferle. “We think these measures go a long way in mitigating the gondola impacts.”
Other terms of the agreement limits the Alpine Meadows mid-station to maintenance and safety personnel use and calls for signage and strict enforcement of the ski area boundary at the KT-22 mid-station. The gondola will operate during the winter season only, when both Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows are in operation and must stop operations by April 30. The agreement prohibits the resort from constructing roads within the Granite Chief Wilderness area.
“We are very happy to have worked collaboratively with the League to address their concerns so that resources could be directed to environmentally beneficial purposes, rather than funding an extended lawsuit,” said Ron Cohen, president and chief operating officer of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, in a press release. “We are eager to get going on this game-changing transportation project.
The project was approved by Placer County in July 2019 in which the alternative that was shown to have the least impact on the environment was selected. This alternative occupies the least amount of land, spanning 2.2 miles, and is farthest away from the Granite Chief Wilderness.
The project includes two base terminals and two mid-stations and 33 lift towers. The gondola will begin at Squaw Valley, traverse over privately owned property and end at the Alpine Meadows base area. The eight-passenger gondola would be able to transport up to 1,400 people per hour.
Approximately 20% of the project will be located on national forest lands, requiring approval from not only the county but from Tahoe National Forest. The forest service approved the gondola in January. There is currently no estimate regarding the start of construction.

CLICK HERE to see original article and photos in the Sierra Sun newspaper.

Regular exercise can also help not only lessen the discomfort of pregnancy but also ease some of the challenges of childbirth.
“Exercise is important during pregnancy,” Dr. Jensen explains. “It can help with weight gain and improve muscle tone, which helps with labor and delivery.”
Dr. Jensen does caution her patients against physical sports like skiing, basketball or soccer.
“Basically, anything where you can fall or get hit is not a good idea,” she says. “Mountain biking is dangerous, given the fall risk.
"Better options are yoga, stretching, and walking. Swimming is also a great exercise while you’re pregnant.”
​While it is a time full of excitement and anticipation, pregnancy can also bring with it worry and anxiety. One of the top concerns for pregnant women? How to stay healthy, for their sake and that of their unborn baby.


To read the complete article in The Union newspaper, CLICK HERE.

--by Mary West
MLT NOTE: Because of the narrowness and steep sides, for safety and by Folsom Lake State Recreation rule, the Pioneer Express Trail to Avery's Pond is closed to mountain bikes. This is a lovely quiet trail - leave your bike at home and hike it.

The rains made for a nice pool at Avery’s Pond in Folsom. I enjoy the quiet of the pond. The bird calls, buzzing of bees and the plunging of turtles. When the winds are calm you can see perfect reflections of the clouds above. 

Picnic tables can be found on two sides of the pond. The tall grass, thick brush and fallen trees have obscured the water line. The banks are steep on three sides. The trail takes you around the pond and back to the trail you came in on.

From Auburn, take Highway 49 south to Lincoln Way. Turn left onto Auburn Folsom Road. Turn left on Shirland Tract Road. Follow it to Rattlesnake Road. Take Rattlesnake all the way into the Folsom State Recreation Area. There is a $12 day use fee. Go out to the Rattlesnake boat ramp and park on the left. The trail is unmarked other than a temporary sign stating the area is closed to motorized vehicles.

The trail was rutted and overgrown on my last visit. Watch out for poison oak in all seasons and ticks. Take the trail straight up the hill to the T. Turn right and you will walk directly to Avery’s Pond. The stroll is maybe 1.2 miles from the parking lot to the pond. Much of the trail is shaded but the valley temperatures have an impact in late spring and summer. Bring plenty of water and take breaks as needed.

If you want a greater challenge, you can start in Auburn and take the Pioneer Express Trail. Other trails lead you in and around Folsom Lake if you want to enjoy the wildflowers and lake views.

This trail is popular with equestrians with a stone watering hole to mark the common occurrence of horses on the trail. Dogs should be kept on a leash.
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CLICK HERE to see the original article and photos in The Union newspaper.
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Mary West is the author of the book series Day Hiker – Gold Country Trail Guide. The books are a collection of Day Hiker columns where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors, and favorite hikes in Northern California’s Gold Country and beyond (Available on Amazon). West was the recipient of the 2017 and 2019 CRAFT Award for Best Outdoor Newspaper Column by the Outdoor Writers Association of California. You can follow West on Facebook and Instagram.

Since so many Mother Lode Trails trail lovers travel to the close-by coast to hike and ride, this new BLM National Monument just north of Santa Cruz is a welcome addition! If you want trails, camping, beach access, you have until MARCH 19, 2020, to add your comments! See the Press Release below.

From the BLM:
"We are pleased to announce after many years of collaborative effort, the Cotoni-Coast Dairies Draft Resource Management Plan (RMPA) and Environmental Assessment is complete. These documents describe and analyze a range of alternatives for the management of 5,843 acres of public lands in Santa Cruz County, California. The BLM envisions partnerships with Federal, State, and local entities to broaden involvement in future management activities and promote stewardship of the Cotoni-Coast Dairies unit of the California Coastal National Monument.The Cotoni-Coast Dairies Draft RMPA will provide management direction for public lands in Santa Cruz County.

The BLM’s Central Coast Field Office is seeking public input during the 30-day public review period ending on March 19, 2020."

================================
PRESS RELEASECentral California District
For Immediate Release: Feb. 14, 2020                                                                                   CA-CC-20-10
Contact: Serena Baker, 916-941-3146, sbaker@blm.gov

BLM seeks public input on draft Cotoni-Coast Dairies management plan
 MARINA, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management Central Coast Field Office is seeking public input on an environmental assessment and draft amendment to the Resource Management Plan for the California Coastal National Monument that will provide management direction for Cotoni-Coast Dairies public lands in Santa Cruz County. The 30-day public review period ends on March 19.
Two open house meetings will be held during the review period from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

• Wednesday, March 4, Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District, 1492 Pine Flat Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
• Thursday, March 5, Louden Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060

The focus of this planning effort is to provide public access and recreation on the Cotoni-Coast Dairies public lands, while ensuring protection of natural and cultural resources. All of the alternatives provide for increased public access to this property. It advances the Administration’s goals identified in Secretarial Order 3366, “Increasing Recreation Opportunities on Lands and Waters Managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior;” Secretarial Order 3347, “Conservation Stewardship and Outdoor Recreation;” and Secretarial Order 3372, “Reducing Wildfire Risks on Department of the Interior Land Through Active Management.”
Cotoni-Coast Dairies was donated to the BLM in 2014 and encompasses nearly 6,000 acres along Santa Cruz County’s North Coast. Access to the property is currently limited to guided tours. Cotoni-Coast Dairies extends along the Pacific Coast Highway near Davenport. This area is marked by six forested perennial streams that flow from the Santa Cruz Mountains into the Pacific Ocean and between these riparian drainages are broad marine terraces. These public lands support a wide variety of habitats and wildlife, including coho salmon, steelhead trout, California red-legged frogs, mule deer and mountain lions.

The BLM welcomes and values the public’s diverse views. Written comments on the environmental assessment and proposed amendment may be submitted electronically at https://go.usa.gov/xEJAw, via email to blm_ca_cotoni_coast_dairies@blm.gov, by fax to 831-582-2266, or mail to BLM Central Coast Field Office, Attn: Cotoni-Coast Dairies RMPA/EA, 940 2nd Ave., Marina, CA  93933-6009.

Before including addresses, phone numbers, email addresses or other personal identifying information in a comment, commenters should be aware that the entire comment, including personal identifying information, could be made publicly available at any time. While the public may ask the BLM to withhold personal identifying information from public review, the BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In fiscal year 2018, the diverse activities authorized on BLM-managed lands generated $105 billion in economic output across the country. This economic activity supported 471,000 jobs and contributed substantial revenue to the U.S. Treasury and state governments, mostly through royalties on minerals.
-BLM-

Central Coast Field Office, 940 2nd Avenue, Marina, CA  93933
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CLICK HERE FOR THE MAIN PAGE
Click on “Documents & Reports” at the top of the left navigation menu.

AUBURN, Calif.  February 12, 2020 – The Resort Triangle Trail Project and Martis Valley Trail were among seven projects approved by the Board of Supervisors yesterday for $3.4 million in lodging tax funding to support tourism in eastern Placer County.
(Photo Credit: Donner Party Mountain Runners)

This year, the Capital Projects Advisory Committee, co-chaired by the county and North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, reviewed and evaluated 19 grant applications totaling over $7.8 million in transient occupancy tax funding requests. 

“The Board appreciates the willingness of the community partners and the CAP Committee to work with the county on these project submissions,” stated Placer County Board of Supervisors Chair Bonnie Gore. “We are very fortunate to have these funds from the Transient Occupancy Tax available to reinvest back into the local community on projects that will help drive tourism to the region.”

The county awarded $1.6 million to trail construction in the “Resort Triangle” area, a transportation network that connects Tahoe City, Kings Beach and Truckee along highways 89, 28 and 267.

The Martis Valley Trail, a proposed 9-mile trail connecting Northstar Village with the Lake Tahoe Basin and the Town of Truckee, was awarded $500,000.

The Truckee Trails Foundation was awarded $202,856 to install way-finding signs and restrooms at three popular mountain biking trailheads in the Tahoe National Forest: Big Chief Trail, Five Creeks Trail and Sawtooth Trail. 

Six additional projects were initially recommended but put on a temporary hold for additional review to be considered by the committee and Board by this coming May. 

View the full list of the approved and proposed projects.

The Capital Projects Advisory Committee – a 13-member group representing the broad economic and geographic interests throughout eastern Placer County – evaluates project proposals based on how well they advance key priorities outlined in the Tourism Master Plan for the region. The committee is co-chaired by Placer County and the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and includes members appointed by community organizations representing resorts, small business, residents and visitors. The committee makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on which projects should receive funding allocated from the TOT tax collected from lodging guests in eastern Placer County. 

(Photo Credit: Donner Party Mountain Runners)
​

​CLICK HERE TO SEE COMPLETE ARTICLE IN YUBANET.NET

Three Marin County men are facing prosecution on charges they caused thousands of dollars of damage to public land by building an illegal bike trail in Indian Valley Open Space Preserve.
(Marin County is considered the birthplace of mt. biking. What happens there first usually flows to other areas. Their trails are very popular with folks in our area.) 
By RICHARD HALSTEAD | Marin Independent Journal
February 10, 2020 at 7:11 am

The men — David Carbonell, Andrew Gibson and Ethan Hirschfeld — are members of the New Paradigm Trail group, which has advocated, sometimes militantly, for the creation of more singletrack bike trails in wilderness areas.

The men were initially charged with felony vandalism, but Marin County Superior Court Judge Kelly Simmons reduced the charges to misdemeanors over the objections of the prosecution. The defendants, none of whom was willing to comment for this story, have pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors can charge vandalism as either a felony or a misdemeanor when the damage exceeds $400, said Jonathan Lynn, a lawyer with Wallin & Klarich.

The attorney representing all three defendants, Colin Cooper, said he is attempting to negotiate with the prosecutors, but has so far been unsuccessful.
“The prosecutors were not willing to negotiate anything,” Cooper said.
Cooper said the prosecution is alleging $72,000 worth of damage to open space land. Some trees were cut down, including coast live oak, Pacific madrone and California bay laurel, according to court documents.
“The estimate is inflated and it’s wrong,” Cooper said. “These guys love the open space; the last thing they want to do is damage it.”
Cooper said his clients hired their own experts to assess the damage done by creation of the trail, and they placed the figure at about $5,500.
Ari Golan, the parks and open space Superintendent, said in March 2019 that his staff received a report that a trail was being constructed illegally in the preserve. After rangers visited the area and found evidence of unauthorized trail construction, they submitted their findings to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s deputies conducted an investigation and submitted a report to the district attorney’s office, which filed charges.
“These guys were arrested after the open space police put up cameras,” Cooper said, “and spent God knows how much money manning the cameras for weeks and weeks to see who was walking in this space and possibly doing something.”
Cooper said the three defendants, and another unidentified man, showed up on the videotape.
“But the cameras never showed anybody doing anything,” Cooper said.
District Attorney Lori Frugoli declined to release a copy of the investigative report, since the case is still pending in the courts.

In 2017, Carbonell, an emergency room physician and cofounder of New Paradigm, was charged with riding his bike illegally on county open space land and resisting a sheriff’s deputy who attempted to cite him. The case was prosecuted as a misdemeanor.
“According to court records Carbonell successfully completed a term of diversion on the case,” Frugoli wrote in an email. As a result, the charges were dismissed.

New Paradigm has advocated that bicyclists be as “disruptive as possible, acting within the guidelines of the law,” as a means of getting what they want.

At a Board of Supervisors meeting in February 2017, Carbonell said, “I don’t want to be 65 years old before I see my vision for trail access sharing in Marin County implemented.”

Linda Novy, president of the Marin Conservation League, said she thinks the cyclists should face felony charges.
“A clear message needs to be sent,” she said. ‘There needs to be a serious penalty for damaging our natural land.”
“With the Road and Trails Management Plan, there have been efforts to look for expanded opportunities for mountain bikes,” she said, “and this is a real slap in the face to those efforts.”

The plan has opened wilderness trails once open only to hikers and horseback riders to bikes, but New Paradigm has expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of the changes.

Nona Dennis, a Marin Conservation League past president, said, “Our view is they’re absolutely on the wrong track, that they are being aggressively provocative and running counter to the reasonable pace at which Marin County Parks is implementing the Road and Trails Management Plan.”

Tom Boss, off-road director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, declined to comment on the case.

------------------------------

-Richard Halstead Richard Halstead is a news reporter covering Marin County news, politics, health care, social services, Fairfax and San Anselmo.

CLICK HERE to see the complete article in the Marin Independent Journal newspaper
​

 Lost Sierra Tails Master Plan will affect Downieville and Truckee trails in the Mother Lode Trails reporting area. Press release by Mark Pecotich:
Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship Launches 'Connected Communities', Linking 15 Communities By Trail
Feb 3, 2020
Sierra Nevada Conservancy awards $360,525 planning grant.
To fulfill the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS) mission of building sustainable, recreation-based communities, Connected Communities will change the economic future of Sierra, Plumas, Lassen and Butte County forever. Linking 15 California mountain communities across four economically disadvantaged counties by approximately 300 miles of new motorized and non-motorized trails, the Lost Sierra Master Trails Plan and Connected Communities project will be a historic collaboration between federal land managers, regional government, local businesses and concerned citizens.

SBTS is a Quincy, California-based 501c3 focused on building what the organization calls #dirtmagic – multiple-use motorized and non-motorized trails for public use – in the Lost Sierra region of the Northern Sierra Nevada range. Since its founding in 2003, SBTS has built 93 miles of new trail and maintained 1,163 miles of existing trail while employing a full-time Professional Trail Crew and contributing 89,800 hours of volunteer labor.

Connected Communities is the most significant project in SBTS history, linking Loyalton, Sierraville, Sierra City, Downieville, Quincy, Graeagle, Portola, Taylorsville, Greenville, Chester, Westwood, Susanville, Jonesville, Truckee, and Verdi, Nevada, providing a world-class network of trails that all user groups can enjoy. This trails-focused effort will support severely disadvantaged communities through recreation-based economic growth.

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, outdoor recreation generated $887 billion in consumer spending annually, ranking fourth of all consumer spending nationwide.

“Recreation is a powerful economic sector, eclipsing the previous boom and bust cycles of mining and timber in Northern California,” said Greg Williams, SBTS Executive Director. “More importantly, recreation is sustainable, and building trails is a perfect dirt avenue to educate users about public lands and healthy watersheds.”

Connected Communities will focus on the Northern Sierra Nevada range, home of both the Yuba and Feather Rivers; critical watersheds delivering more than 65 percent of California's clean drinking water. Proposition 68, The Clean Water and Parks Act, was passed on June 6, 2018, authorizing $4 billion in general obligation bonds for state and local parks, environmental protection and restoration projects and water infrastructure projects. Central to Prop 68 is educating the public about these important environmental efforts, and getting the public outdoors on trails to see these efforts firsthand is an effective and engaging way to learn while bolstering the economies of watershed communities.

Through Proposition 68 grant funding, and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) Resilient Communities Grant Program, SBTS was recently awarded a $360,525 planning grant to get started with Phase 1 of the Connected Communities project. This funding through the Phase 1 work includes inventory, planning and mapping of the new network of trails, as well as community outreach and input, land manager agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MOU). SBTS will provide an official Trails Feasibility Study and a Regional Master Trails Plan for Connected Communities.

“Trails on public lands are proven to create local employment, attract visitors and new businesses, and improve the health and economy of mountain communities,” said Lynn Campbell, North Central Area Representative, SNC. “The SBTS project collaboratively envisions and supports Proposition 68 and SNC's Resilient Communities objectives by creating a new system of world class multiple-use trail experiences through public lands at the top of California's key Sierra Nevada watersheds. We are happy to support this vision to preserve and celebrate the character of rural communities and create new opportunities for prosperity in the Sierra Nevada.”

Connected Communities will also identify areas within each community where high-quality trail access would create benefits for residents, businesses and visitors. Delivering these trails to “Main Street” of each community will bring in visitors patronizing restaurants, accommodations and services, as well as enabling residents to easily access their local public lands without the use of a vehicle.

Connected Communities Phase 2 will be NEPA/CEQA Environmental Studies on 300 miles of new trail, with a projected cost of $792,000. Phase 3 will be where shovels hit the dirt, constructing the trails on National Forest lands using Challenge Cost Share, Voluntary Services Agreements, locally hired Trail Crews, student trail crews and volunteers. Projected cost of constructing 300 miles of trail is approximately $7,920,000.

SBTS is using The John Muir Trail as a model for this project, an iconic hiking trail running 211 miles through the Sierra Nevada, constructed between 1915 and 1938. But where the John Muir trail remains in extremely rugged and remote terrain, far from any communities, Connected Communities will bring the trail into town, helping drive the economic health of each community.

Through the course of the Phase 1 planning cycle, SBTS will be holding town hall meetings in each Connected Communities town, gathering input from local residents. For more information on town hall dates, the Connected Communities project and how the public can engage, visit: sierratrails.org/dirt-magic.

None of this Connected Communities work would be possible without the support and cooperation of partners. All Connected Communities partners as of January 2020 are listed below.

● US Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region 5
● Tahoe National Forest
● Lassen National Forest
● Plumas National Forest
● Plumas County Board of Supervisors
● Plumas County Dept. Public Works
● City of Portola
● Sierra County Board of Supervisors
● City of Loyalton
● Lassen County Board of Supervisors
● City of Susanville
● Butte County Board of Supervisors
● Sierra County Land Trust
● Feather River Land Trust
● Lost Sierra Chamber of Commerce
● Center for Economic Development, California State University, Chico
● State of Nevada, Off-Highway Vehicle Program
● Nevada County Woods Riders
● Truckee Dirt Riders
● 707 Trail Riders
● International Mountain Bicycling Association
● Chico Velo
● Susanville Area Bicycle Association
● Pacific Crest Trail Association

To learn more, CLICK HERE:

Originally called Mother Lode Mountain Biking, leaders are changing the organization’s name and become a chapter of IMBA. (There is a concern that the bike group's new name is almost identical to Mother Lode Trails, and that they have taken over the Mother Lode Trails Instagram account.) They are planning to develop trails on the West Slope of the EDC along the Hwy 50 and 49 corridors, with a particular interest in Crronan Ranch. 
(Mountain Democrat  photo by Kevin Christensen)

Whether it be boating down the South Fork of the American River or hiking in the scenic Sierra, El Dorado County is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. A trailblazing organization, the newly formed Mother Lode Trail Stewardship, is seeking to create, maintain and enhance sustainable recreational trails in the county for even more recreational opportunities — and as a result assist the local economy.
To see the original article and photos in the Mountain Democrat newspaper, CLICK HERE.

Headed by Shingle Springs resident Ethan Koenigs, MLTS’ mission is to build trails “inclusively” for mountain bikers, hikers, runners and horseback riders with an emphasis on connecting trails to community centers.
The group has the notion that trail users will take advantage of local shops, eateries and drinking establishments in the county.
“Having a robust recreational trail system connected to the community I believe will benefit local businesses,” said Koenigs, an environmental project manager with SMUD. “Trail users will inevitably spend money at small businesses in the county if they can gain access to them beyond driving.”
Originally called Mother Lode Mountain Biking, Koenigs, also an avid hiker, and other MLTS leaders decided to change the organization’s name once they realized a more inclusive approach could gain broader support locally. The trail advocates wish to create a community connected by paths that has features “all users can enjoy.”
“A ‘bigger tent’ of members means more benefit to the community and will increase our ability to raise funds,” Koenigs said.
Another MLTS goal, becoming a chapter of the International Mountain Bike Association, will allow it to take advantage of a larger pool of resources for education, promotions and membership acquisition.
The region currently has two other mountain bike advocacy groups, Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association and Folsom-Auburn Trail Riding Action Coalition, that have geographic overlap. MLTS’ focus will be on the West Slope of EDC along the Highway 50 and 49 corridors.
One new trail planned in the area will be a 12 to 15 mile mountain bike trail between Ice House and Union Valley reservoirs — along with other recreational facilities — as part of SMUD’s new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license agreement to operate its hydroelectric facility in the Crystal Basin Recreation Area of the Eldorado National Forest.
“The new trail in the Ice House Reservoir area will be a major new recreation feature for mountain bikers looking for something new that is built and designed professionally,” Koenigs explained.
Koenigs said MLTS also has particular interest in developing the Cronan Ranch area and connecting Coloma and Lotus.
“That area is already a mecca because of the amazing whitewater rafting,” Koenigs said. “Why not build off of that and have amazing trails that people can use year-round and help some of the businesses that suffer in the whitewater off-season.”
MLTS members also see potential for new trails in the Sly Park area and El Dorado Hills where Koenigs said there is a “fair amount of open space with a large population hungry for new trail experiences.”
Other areas on the group’s radar include the new Marble Valley development south of Highway 50 near Cameron Park and improving a “terrific network of trails” on the Georgetown Divide.
“The MLTS is very interested in helping the design of the Marble Valley area because there’s potential for connection to the town center in El Dorado Hills,” Koenigs said. “The El Dorado Trail is already serving as a connector and it could be further developed to support a diversity of uses and eventually a network of new trails could connect to that.”
A “turning point” came for Koenigs on undertaking the trailblazing effort during a visit to Bentonville, Ark., in 2019 where he witnessed first-hand how much the city invested in trails.
“The whole community in Bentonville got on board with the concept after they built a few really cool trails that connected right into their downtown area,” said Koenigs. “As a result they saw the tremendous benefit to local businesses, overall community health and more. Word spread quickly and it snow-balled into the city reaping huge economic rewards as it is now a world-class destination for mountain bikers.”
Koenigs said MLTS will seek out grants and raise funds through events and local business sponsors, but the “only way this works” is if they get buy-in from the trail-using public with a willingness to serve and volunteer their time to help.
MLTS is holding its next meeting Thursday, Jan. 30 at 6:30 p.m. at Solid Ground Brewery in Diamond Springs.
For more information on Mother Lode Trail Stewardship visit motherlodestewardship.org or call (530) 208-9947.
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To see the original article and photos in the Mountain Democrat newspaper, CLICK HERE.

“I wanted to take a year between high school and college to travel, meet new people and learn new skills,” said Evan Orjala, 18, a member of AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) from Northfield, Minnesota. “What I found was that I am not only learning hands on skills such as building trails and removing invasive species, but also interpersonal skills such as how to live with a group.”

Each year, AmeriCorps NCCC engages teams of members in community projects across the United States. Service projects, which typically last from six to eight weeks, address critical needs related to natural and other disasters, infrastructure improvement, environmental stewardship, conservation, and urban and rural development. In return, team members get to travel, gain hands-on work experience and professional skills training, and earn money towards their education.

Bear Yuba Land Trust and Woolman at Sierra Friends Center recently hosted an Americorps NCCC team made up of twelve young adults, ages 18 to 23, some from as far as Kansas, Massachusetts and Alabama and many who had never been to the West Coast before. Over the course of eight weeks, the team worked with BYLT’s Trails Coordinator Bill Haire and Stewardship Manager Elias Grant on a variety of local projects including forest thinning, fuels reduction and invasive plant removal on the Adam Ryan Preserve near Alta Sierra, along with breaking ground on new trails such as the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail in Nevada City.
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“I always enjoy working with the NCCC teams. They are very good young people, with a lot of potential,” said Haire. “This year, they, along with community volunteers, were instrumental in the clearing and removal of large amounts of brush – including tree size Manzanitas – from the preliminary line for the new Sugarloaf Mountain Trail. Without their help, this could have taken us much longer.”

Sugarloaf Mountain is the iconic landmark just north of Nevada City. The goal of the new trail is to connect downtown Nevada City to the top of the mountain, which offers spectacular 360 degree views of downtown Nevada City, Coastal Mountains, Sierra Nevada Mountains, and beyond. The trail will also connect to Hirschman Trail and Tobiassen Park via a recently established county trail that runs west from North Bloomfield Road to the Eric Rood Administrative Center.

“We are excited about the construction of the Sugarloaf Trail. Trails within walking distance of our residents encourages healthy activity and also provide a no-cost recreational facility for the entire community,” said Dawn Zydonis, Parks and Recreation Manager, City of Nevada City. “The views along the proposed route are amazing and we believe the community is going to thoroughly enjoy hiking and biking this trail when completed.”

The long term impact of past NCCC teams can still be seen and felt with projects such as the eradication of Scotch Broom at the Adam Ryan Preserve. After nearly five years of help from NCCC and community volunteers, the preserve is almost entirely free of the invasive plant, helping to improve fire safety, among other things.

“NCCC teams are instrumental in helping BYLT complete important trail and restoration projects throughout the community. Equally important for the team members is the service experience gained as well as seeing the impact of their work,” explained Grant.

At the end of their eight week assignment many of the NCCC team members returned to their hometowns or went to work on other projects around the United States. Many expressed their pride in the work they were able to accomplish during their stay in Nevada County.

“The work we are doing will make it easier for people to walk the trails,” said De’ Janae Martin, 22, of Houston, TX. “Walking the trails relieves the stress of everyday life and creates a happy and peaceful community.”

If you are interested in volunteering with the BYLT Trails Stewardship Team, go to http://www.bylt.org to sign up for an upcoming work day or email Felicia Dunn, Community Engagement Coordinator, at felicia@bylt.org.

To see the complete article and more photos in The Union, CLICK HERE.

BLM Press Release SACRAMENTO, Calif. – New State Director Karen Mouritsen has joined Bureau of Land Management in California. Mouritsen started in her new position on Jan. 21.
“I am excited to join the California team and look forward to meeting with employees, partners and stakeholders,” Mouritsen said. “Partnerships are pivotal to managing these beautiful landscapes and natural resources that support generations of families and local communities, providing important benefits to Californians and the nation.”

Mouritsen, a 27-year career public servant, comes to the California post after serving the past three years as the State Director for the BLM Eastern States Office, which manages BLM lands and minerals in 22 states along and east of the Mississippi River. In addition, she served as a Regional Facilitator for the Department of Interior reorganization effort.
Over the course of her career, Mouritsen has spent time in Washington, D.C., serving in key leadership roles. These include senior level positions as the BLM Deputy Assistant Director for Energy, Minerals, and Realty Management, BLM Budget Officer and BLM liaison to the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management where she advised and briefed senior leadership on renewable energy, wildlife, wilderness, recreation, land use planning, and interagency cooperation with military partners. Mouritsen also worked as Acting State Director in Alaska and New Mexico, as well as Acting Associate District Manager in the BLM Southern Nevada District Office in Las Vegas and the Medford District Office in Oregon.
Prior to working for the BLM, Mouritsen served as an attorney advisor in the Interior Department's Office of the Solicitor for 10 years beginning in 1992. There she provided legal expertise on BLM issues, including endangered species, land use planning and forestry matters. Mouritsen—a native of Dallas—received her bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin College of Engineering in 1983. She earned her Juris Doctor degree at the University of Texas at Austin Law School in 1992 before launching her Federal career.
As BLM California State Director, Mouritsen will lead a team that administers 15 million acres of public lands and 42 million acres of minerals and energy resources in California, as well as 1.6 million surface acres in northwestern Nevada. BLM public lands extend across coastal areas, rangelands, forests, high mountains and deserts making California one of the most diverse states in the nation.
Mouritsen takes over from Acting State Director Joe Stout, who will return to his post as BLM-California Associate State Director, where he will work closely with Mouritsen to ensure continuity of leadership.

CLICK HERE to see the original BLM Press Release.