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Mary West: Exploring Emigrant Lake Trail

9/11/2020

NOTE: Because of wildfires, Eldorado National Forest and Tahoe National Forest are temporarily CLOSED, including the Emigrant Lake Trail.

EXPLORING EMIGRANT LAKE TRAIL
The Emigrant Lake trail; one trail, two lakes. The journey to Emigrant Lake begins with a beautiful drive to the Kirkwood area of Alpine County. Aptly named for the majestic pine-covered mountains, Alpine County is home to world-class skiing, and for day hikers, panoramic views, lush greenery, running streams and mild temperatures.

A dear friend told me about Emigrant Lake Trail for backpacking and camping. I admit I don’t do a lot of backpacking, I am a day hiker, I like to sleep in my own bed and need coffee in the morning, but eight-miles is a doable day hike and with the drive it’s a full day.
This was a first for me in a couple of ways; I brought my friend Lizzy to hike with and this was my first hike in Alpine County.

To get there, take Highway 49 to Placerville where you pick up US 50 East to Sly Park Road to Mormon Emigrant Trail/Silver Lake Road. Take left on CA-88E to Caples Lake.

The trail head has limited parking but I went on a three-day weekend that may have added some congestion. A convenient restroom and a large sign marking the trail head set you on your way four-miles back to Emigrant Lake. The trail begins by skirting Caples Lake for the first two-miles. At the end of the lake you will notice the gentle climb that takes you away from the noise of the highway, through tall pines, with the call of the birds above and wildflowers at your feet.

A couple of creek crossings may get your shoes wet if you misstep, but even in September the runoff leads to lush greenery decorated with impressive rock formations and mountain meadows, a joy to behold. I am happy to report that this is a well maintained and well signed trail. Near the end a handful of switchbacks. The trail then opens up to a meadow that leads to Emigrant Lake surrounded by peaks including Melissa Coray Peak, named for a Pioneer woman who walked 2000-miles to reach the west, Peak 9597 and Covered Wagon Peak, that still held patches of snow.

It’s downhill from here. After a good rest, maybe a snack, the trek back is a gentle downhill, weaving among the trees and boulders strewn about the wilderness. Before you know it, Caples Lake comes into view, the roar of the highway finds your ears and this hiking day-dream will be over.

Mary West is author of the book series Day Hiker – Gold Country Trail Guides (Available on Amazon). The books are a collection of the Day Hiker columns where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors, and favorite hikes in Northern California’s Gold Country and beyond. West was the recipient of the 2018 and 2019 CRAFT Award for Best Outdoor Column by the Outdoor Writers of California. You can follow West on Facebook and Instagram.

Another protected addition and trail easement in the Bear River watershed by PLT

9/10/2020

Placer Land Trust has some good news for you to help brighten your 2020! We just permanently protected a 185-acre addition to the Laursen Bear River Preserve located north of Auburn, making the total preserve 546 acres. That means that with the help our members, we have protected more than 11,900 acres of natural and agricultural lands in Placer County!

The expanded Laursen Bear River Preserve, along with other adjacent preserves, creates a block of over 8,000 contiguous acres of protected lands in the Bear River and Raccoon Creek watersheds. These expansive oak woodlands support healthy and diverse populations of plants and wildlife. The preserve provides critical habitat for animals such as mule deer, mountain lion, grey fox, hawks, and many others.

“This property was on the market and certainly would have been developed had the original landowners, Andy and Shana Laursen, not agreed to sell it to Placer Land Trust instead,” says Placer Land Trust Executive Director Jeff Darlington. “We are so grateful to Andy and Shana for working with Placer Land Trust to protect their lands along the Bear River.”

Andy and Shana were key funders of Placer Land Trust in the early 2000’s to help the nonprofit remain sustainable. In 2005 the couple provided funds for Placer Land Trust to purchase the Shutamul Bear River Preserve, adjacent to their land. Placer Land Trust recognized Andy and Shana for their conservation work with the 2010 Placer Conservator Award.

The funding needed to acquire the extension of the Laursen Bear River Preserve came earlier this year through two Prop 68 grants: one from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC), and one from the Wildlife Conservation Board. Emigrant Trails Greenway Trust provided the funds needed for stewardship of the property for generations to come.

In addition to the diverse wildlife, the property also has a rich human history. Andy feels the land is special because, “people have lived on this land for probably thousands of years. There’s been Native Americans, there’s been Basque sheepherders, there’s been gold miners. And we bought all this land to keep it the way it is, to keep it natural.”

Placer Land Trust plans to share this land with the public through docent-led activities starting in 2021. The property is served only by private roads, so it is not suitable for open public access and recreation at this time. However a trail easement donated by Andy and Shana will allow future visitors to travel from the Laursen Bear River Preserve to adjacent Shutamul and Harvego Bear River Preserves.

In the meantime, the Laursen Bear River Preserve expansion can be “visited” during Placer Land Trust’s annual Placer Conservator, which will be taking place virtually this year and is free to attend. Click here more information on the event, including links to RSVP.

CLICK HERE to see the original press release from Placer Land Trust.

New bike video in the time of COVID-19

9/9/2020

Bikers get a bad rap, especially recently in the time of the pandemic. There are more bikers, as well as other users, on the trails. Some of them new or old, who don't understand how one bad interaction can ruin a year of good public relations work.

In speaking with Land Managers, there have been more conflicts, more injuries, and more complaints in the past three months than they have had in years. In response to these unsettling issues, these bike groups have made a new video to help everyone understand how to share the trails without these incidents. How to stop those complaints you have to be aware that your interactions with others affects all bicyclists... and even more important, your access to public shared trails.

TO SEE THIS SHORT VIDEO, CLICK HERE.

Cool hike: Donner Summit to Olympic Valley

8/27/2020

From the Truckee Donner Land Trust Newsletter
One of the great things about the Truckee Donner Region is when it gets hot, we can escape the heat by heading to higher elevations - Royal Gorge, the Donner Lake Rim Trail, the Mt. Lola Trail above Perazzo Meadows, and the Sierra Crest. This month’s hike is a true classic, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) from Donner Summit to Olympic Valley. Sixteen miles in length, it’s a favorite for those seeking a long day out in nature, and many of its iconic views were protected by the Truckee Donner Land Trust over the years.

This hike is a point-to-point journey, beginning, at the Donner Summit trailhead of the PCT just behind the Summit Haus. This trailhead is receiving major upgrades from our friends at the Donner Summit Association, including signage, bathrooms and picnic tables. The trail starts by climbing up beautiful-hand-built steps up the slopes of Donner Peak, Sugar Bowl Ski Resort and Mt. Judah. Ground-hugging flowers last late into the summer here. As the trail gets higher and the Judah loop splits to the left, hikers will enjoy a mountain hemlock forest. Hemlocks seem more suited to a children’s book with their twisted trunks and tops that often bow over to the ground.

Views of Van Norden Meadow open to the west, with Razorback ridge and Rowton Peak (last month’s hike of the month) looming in the distance. This landscape was protected by the Land trust in 2012.
As the trail gains the Sierra Crest, the view to the west is of Schallenberger Ridge above Donner Lake and Coldstream Canyon tucked in just behind it - two areas where the Land Trust got its start in buying open space three decades ago. For most of the remainder of the route, the trail never strays far from the Sierra Crest. Elevations above 8,000 feet, combined with cooling breezes, provide a great escape from the valley heat. The route passes the distinctive round top of Anderson Peak and the 8900-foot Tinker’s knob, both familiar landmarks from Town.

Dramatic views of the Granite Chief Wilderness and Royal Gorge of the American River - some 5,000 feet below, fill the south and western skylines. The hike leaves the Pacific Crest Trail with a left turn near diminutive Mountain Meadows Lake, before descending the Granite Chief Trail near the top of the Shirley Canyon as it heads into Olympic Valley below.

We recommend Hiking Project for maps and directions.

Remember, no bicycles are allowed on the Pacific Crest Trail.

To read the complete article and get photos, CLICK HERE for the Truckee-Donner Land Trust News.

California, U.S. Forest Service, Establish Shared Long-Term Strategy (MOU) to Manage Forests and Rangelands

8/16/2020

Agreement will improve coordination to reduce wildfire risks on federal and state lands as well as increase recreation. Funding included in the federal Great American Outdoors Act.
SACRAMENTO Aug. 12, 2020— In a key step to improve stewardship of California’s forests, the Newsom Administration and the U.S. Forest Service today announced a new joint state-federal initiative (MOU) to reduce wildfire risks, restore watersheds, protect habitat and biological diversity, and help the state meet its climate objectives.
The Agreement for Shared Stewardship of California’s Forest and Rangelands includes a commitment by the federal government to match California’s goal of reducing wildfire risks on 500,000 acres of forest land per year. To protect public safety and ecology, experts agree that at least one million acres of California forest and wildlands must be treated annually across jurisdictions.

A historical transition toward unnaturally dense forests, a century of fire suppression and climate change resulting in warmer, hotter and drier conditions have left the majority of California’s forestland highly vulnerable to catastrophic wildfire and in need of active, science-based management. Since the federal government owns nearly 58 percent of California’s 33 million acres of forestlands, while the state owns 3 percent, joint state-federal management is crucial to California’s overall forest health and wildfire resilience.

Improved coordination also is key since nearly half of the state dollars invested in fuels management in recent years was spent on federal land.

“Wildfires don’t stop at jurisdictional boundaries. As we respond to wildfires in real-time this summer, improving coordination between the major stewards of California’s forested land will help us protect communities and restore forest health across California,” Governor Gavin Newsom said. “We are grateful to secure the U.S. Forest Service’s commitment to help us more effectively address the scale of California’s current wildfire crisis.”
“Collaboration between state and federal agencies on issues of forest health and resiliency is critical,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen. “The Forest Service is fortunate to collaborate on restoration projects across the state and share science and research to address issues to help care for the land and serve people. We are excited to expand our partnership with California to enhance our collaboration though this Shared Stewardship agreement with California.”
The Shared Stewardship Agreement builds on existing coordination between state and federal agencies, and outlines six core principles and nine specific actions that will drive improved state-federal collaboration:

Prioritize public safety;
Use science to guide forest management;
Coordinate land management across jurisdictions;
Increase the scale and pace of forest management projects;
Remove barriers that slow project approvals; and
Work closely with all stakeholders, including tribal communities, environmental groups, academia and timber companies.

Specifically, through this agreement California and the U.S. Forest Service commit to execute the following activities together:

Treat one million acres of forest and wildland annually to reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire (building on the state’s existing 500,000-acre annual commitment);
Develop a shared 20-year plan for forest health and vegetation treatment that establishes and coordinates priority projects;
Expand use of ecologically sustainable techniques for vegetation treatments such as prescribed fire;
Increase pace and scale of forest management by improving ecologically sustainable timber harvest in California and grow jobs by tackling structural obstacles, such as workforce and equipment shortfalls and lack of access to capital;
Prioritize co-benefits of forest health such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity, healthy watersheds and stable rural economies;
Recycle forest byproducts to avoid burning slash piles;
Improve sustainable recreation opportunities;
Enable resilient, fire-adapted communities; and
Share data and continue to invest in science.

The Great American Outdoors Act, signed into law on August 4, will provide critical funding for the Forest Service’s work in California.
CLICK HERE to see original press release from Gov. Newsom's office.

Mary West: Exploring Monkey Rock above Lake Tahoe

8/14/2020

The famed Monkey Rock that overlooks Lake Tahoe from East Lake is off Tunnel Road in the Spooner Backcountry, part of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Parks. The hike to Monkey Rock (more like a gorilla, which is not a monkey but a great ape. We will let that go) leads to a nice view of Lake Tahoe and surrounding snow capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

I went hiking with my oldest son Canyon, his brilliant girlfriend Emily, and our faithful K9 Stella the wonder dog to Monkey Rock in late spring. We decided to take the longer — but we think — more scenic Highway 50 approach on the way up. At Sand Harbor look for the Bullwheel parking lot in front of the Tunnel Creek Cafe. There is no parking at the trailhead.

The steady climb is made easier by the ever-changing views of beautiful blue Lake Tahoe, the towering pines and bright granite boulders. Your hike begins from the parking lot and up behind the Tunnel Creek Cafe on Tunnel Creek Road. There is a $2 fee to hike the trails. An iron ranger with envelopes is up the trail a piece.

Once on Tunnel Creek Road it is all uphill. At the intersection you make the left with a steep uphill climb. You hike nearly 500 feet up on decomposed granite and sand. For this reason, I call this short hike moderate. The climb up is not so bad but coming down can be slippery. Wear sturdy shoes and if you are at all worried take your trekking poles. There is a longer route that spreads the hike over a greater distance and is less steep. You can find this alternative just a bit further up the main trail.

The steady climb is made easier by the ever-changing views of beautiful blue Lake Tahoe, the towering pines and bright granite boulders.

This is a popular trail. Once on top expect to wait your turn in the jumble of rocks that overlooks the lake and of course the co-star of the show, the gorilla shaped rock that sits taking in the view with you.
This in and out hike is maybe three miles total. You will not find signs declaring Monkey Rock. You must know what you are looking for. Other trails continue beyond Monkey Rock to Marlette Flume Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail and Twin Lakes.

The alternate route is up Interstate 80 to CA-267S in Truckee. Take NV-28E to Tahoe Blvd to Tunnel Creek Blvd in Incline Village.

Mary West is author of the book series Day Hiker – Gold Country Trail Guides (Available on Amazon). The books are a collection of the Day Hiker columns where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors, and favorite hikes in Northern California’s Gold Country and beyond. West was the recipient of the 2018 and 2019 CRAFT Award for Best Outdoor Column by the Outdoor Writers of California. You can follow West on Facebook and Instagram.

New bike patrol on the American River Parkway bike trails

8/6/2020

This past February, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors voted to authorize the establishment of the American River Bike Patrol to watch over the bike trails on the American River Parkway. The volunteer Bike Patrol, organized by the National Ski Patrol (NSP), has recruited and trained members and began patrolling the trails in July.
Photo credit: American River Parkway Bike Patrol

The patrol’s 55 volunteer members were trained by the NSP in first-aid, CPR and basic bicycle repair. Regional Parks Rangers helped to train volunteers on expected trail etiquette. All volunteers are required to wear a volunteer bicycle patrol uniform, distinguishing themselves from regular users of the trail. NSP coordinates bicycle trail volunteer schedules with Regional Parks.

“We are excited for these volunteers to hit the trails to help teach trail users about trail safety and etiquette,” said Liz Bellas, Director of Regional Parks. “We have seen an increase in new trail users this year and these new users don’t always know proper trail etiquette, which can be dangerous for other trail users. The Bike Patrol members will be great educational resources.”

“We are delighted to be part of the Parkway team and our agenda focuses on safety; safe cycling, safe walking and family enjoyment on the trail,” said Jim Cheng, Bike Patrol Representative.

Members of the Bike Patrol will act as trail ambassadors providing directional advice, equipment assistance, safety insights and bike safety programs, assistance with events and first-aid services.
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Similar volunteer trail programs for equestrian mounted patrols have existed in this area for decades, but this is the first for a bike patrol. Current equestrian volunteer patrols are: Folsom Lake SRA Mounted Trail Patrol, Gold Country Trails Council (Tahoe National Forest) Mounted Trail Patrol, Sac Valley Equestrian Patrol, Auburn SRA Mounted Trail Patrol, and American River Parkway Equestrian Patrol. If you are interested in volunteering for any of these programs, visit the VOLUNTEER tab on the Mother Lode Trails web page.

CLICK HERE for original article in the Sacramento County News.

Nevada City native new BLM District Director of 5 BLM field offices, including Mother Lode

7/30/2020

The Bureau of Land Management has named Chris Heppe as its new director for the Central California District.

Heppe grew up playing in the streams and forests of the Sierra Nevada foothills in Nevada City. It is his love of water, wildlife and their habitat that led him on a lifelong career in federal service to remote corners of the world. But Heppe’s path has now brought him back home as the new Bureau of Land Management Central California District Manager based in El Dorado Hills.

“It is a tremendous privilege to be a steward of such a diverse landscape and spectacular cross-section of California that is enjoyed and utilized in a variety of ways,” says Heppe. “I look forward to supporting the BLM managers, staff and specialists who are fantastic at handling the popularity of our recreation areas, while building partnerships with other agencies and communities. Together we can leverage resources and enhance the work being done on the ground.”

The Central California District encompasses roughly 2.2 million acres of BLM-managed public lands stretching from the Pacific Ocean through the Central Valley across the Sierra Nevada and Eastern Sierra to the California-Nevada border.

It includes five BLM field offices – Bakersfield, Bishop, Central Coast, Mother Lode and Ukiah – as well as four national monuments, among them the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. The district also includes three wild and scenic rivers, two national trails and a national scenic area scattered across 42 counties.

Two weeks after graduating with a biological sciences degree from the University of California at Davis, Heppe started his federal service as a Peace Corps volunteer planting trees as living fences that provide habitat, forage and erosion control in Paraguay.

He then hooted for spotted owls as a seasonal wildlife technician in the Tahoe National Forest, before earning a master’s degree in environmental management from the University of San Francisco.

Heppe went to work for the Environmental Protection Agency in their Regional Office reviewing hazardous waste management permits, then transitioned into the Water Management Division administering grants to states to improve water quality and watershed health.

Watershed restoration next led him to the Redwood National Park as a natural resource program manager and onto the BLM as manager of the Headwaters Forest Reserve.

Heppe most recently served as the assistant field manager for the BLM Arcata Field Office where he oversaw a variety of natural and cultural resource programs in partnership with local communities.

Heppe succeeds Este Stifel, who retired from federal service last year.

When not in the office, Heppe enjoys family time, hiking and shooting hoops in the driveway.

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 subsurface mineral estate throughout the nation.

CLICK HERE to read original article.

Adventure travelers beware: Your travel insurance may not cover your extreme trail activity

7/27/2020

Interest in adventure-travel activities such as hiking and mountain climbing is at an all-time high this summer, more than tripling last year, according to travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth. However, action enthusiasts should be aware that depending on the specifics, travel insurance policies may not cover them.

Many travel insurance policies cover hiking and exclude mountain climbing and other extreme sports. However, the difference between the two activities isn’t always clear to travelers. Here’s what outdoor enthusiasts need to ask when purchasing travel coverage – some useful tips for brokers to pass on:
While some policies do provide coverage for mountain climbing, they may not cover other activities travelers participate in.

Travelers should consider policies with sports and activities coverage, which can cover a wide array of activities often excluded from standard policies, such as mountain biking, ice climbing and skiing.

To read the complete article, CLICK HERE.

Mt. biking most disruptive to wildlife and ecology, according to California government science report

7/26/2020

The California Fish and Wildlife Journal (CFWJ) report was just published on trail users effect on wildlife, entitled "Balancing Conservation and Recreation." CFWJ is a peer-reviewed, scientific journal focused on the biology, ecology, and conservation of the flora and fauna of California.

Public access to the complete 126-page report CLICK HERE.

The Journal is published with:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA Gavin Newsom, Governor
CALIFORNIA NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY
FISH AND GAME COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
CALIFORNIA FISH AND WILDLIFE EDITORIAL STAFF

"Balancing Conservation and Recreation" overview
California is one of the most biodiverse states in the U.S. and while 47% of the state is currently protected, 97% of these protected lands are opened to human access. This report...serves as a starting point for cooperatively exploring the challenge of protecting wildlife while balancing non-consumptive recreation use. If we are to meet conservation goals related to wildlife and wildlife habitat, it may not be appropriate to allow recreation use in all county, state, and federal park and protected areas and at all times.

This study uses years of previous study and new peer-reviewed articles, such a the results of ten years of camera-trap studies on conservation lands, bobcat (Lynx rufus) movement modeling using more than ten years of telemetry data, and compiled 69 journal articles that describe the results of original research examining the effects of non-motorized nature-based recreation on birds.

ALL wildlife are disturbed by mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding. Biking is the most disruptive, followed by hiking and then by horseback riding, but ALL human activity disrupts wildlife.

Distinguishing facets of mountain biking:
"Together with the extent and creation and use of unauthorized trails and technical trail features by mountain bikers, the mass-marketing of the sport, and the very large numbers of mountain bikers (Burgin and Hardiman 2012), at least four facets of mountain biking distinguish it from other recreational activities such that it may be of potentially greater concern with respect to its effects on wildlife: distance traveled, speed of travel, biking in the dark, and political lobbying and advocacy.

Distance traveled.
-Bikers traveling faster obviously travel farther than hikers per unit time and could therefore disturb more wildlife than hikers per unit time (Taylor and Knight 2003; Burgin and Hardiman 2012); the same applies to bikers and equestrians when bikers travel faster than equestrians. Larson et al. (2016) reasoned that, since motorized activities often cover larger spatial extents than non-motorized activities, it is possible that the effects of motorized activities have been underestimated. For valid comparisons among recreation-related ecological effects, the comparisons must account for distances traveled and the associated levels of disturbance to wildlife along the entire route traveled.

Speed of travel.
-While recreation-related effects on wildlife are generally assumed to be indirect (Dertien et al. 2018), the speed at which mountain bikers travel, combined with their relatively quiet mode of travel, can result in direct disturbance to wildlife. A relatively fast moving, quiet mountain bike may approach an animal undetected until well within the animal’s normal flight response zone. The result may be a severe startle response by the animal with significant consequences to the animal and/or the mountain biker (Quinn and Cherno 2010). The sudden encounter is the most common situation associated with grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribillis) inflicted injury (Quinn and Cherno 2010). Biking-caused wildlife fatalities likely resulting because of bikers’ speed occur with amphibians and reptiles that may be attracted to trails for thermoregulation and are thus exposed to collision with bikes’ wheels (Burgin and Hardiman 2012); photo-documentation provides evidence of three such fatalities in CDFW’s Del Mar Mesa Ecological Reserve in San Diego where a San Diego horned lizard (Phrynosoma coronatum blainvillii, a species of concern under CDFW and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), three western toads (Anaxyrus boreas), and two Baja California treefrogs (Pseudacris hypochondriaca) were killed by mountain bikes (J. Price, CDFW, personal communication, 2019). The treefrogs appear to have been mating when run over—the photo documentation shows eggs spilling out of the female. Biking is prohibited in this ecological reserve, and two of the run-overs occurred on unauthorized trails (J. Price, CDFW, personal communication, 2019).
Though there are methods (e.g., bells attached to bikes) for mountain bikers to give warning of their approach to other trail users, and these can be effective for this purpose, these methods themselves can introduce additional disturbance to wildlife. And, such warning sounds are ineffective for wildlife whose hearing range does not detect them or who do not hear them soon enough to avoid a collision. Moreover, when recreationists are visible on approach to wildlife, the more threatening (e.g., faster, more direct) the recreationists appear to wildlife (as potential predators), the greater the flight initiation distance from the recreationists (Stankowich 2008). Fleeing from a perceived predator represents potentially needless expenditure of valuable energy.

Biking in the dark.
—Mountain biking in the dark (i.e., night riding), which is on the rise in protected areas, can disrupt the natural balance between diurnal and nocturnal wildlife. Consequently, night riding poses a dual threat to wildlife that exhibit diel shifts toward night: night riding can compound the pressure such wildlife experience from daytime recreational activities by increasing encounters with competitors and even further reducing the time available for foraging and breeding (Reilly et al. 2017). Night riding can also startle naturally nocturnal wildlife and wildlife that has become increasingly nocturnal to avoid daytime recreationists and other anthropogenic disturbances. Generally, temporal shifts by wildlife involve disruptions to both the shifting wildlife and to the wildlife naturally active during the time frame the shifting wildlife move into. In this way, such shifts set both groups of wildlife up for conflict and competition, disrupt predator/prey relationships, reduce feeding/hunting time and success, and disrupt breeding and other activities (Gaynor 2018). Temporal shifts can also result in spatial shifts and thus potentially cause further ecological disruptions. Thus, temporal shifts are disruptive not only to individuals, but also to communities, and ultimately, populations (Gaynor 2018).

Political lobbying and advocacy.
—In part due to the markedly different motivation driving mountain bikers compared to other recreationists in protected areas, especially in the more extreme forms of mountain biking (Burgin and Hardiman 2012), the mountain biking community has come to wield significant lobbying and advocacy pressure throughout the United States. Networking among members if the mountain biking community has resulted in changes in land managers’ decisions (Bergin and Hardiman 2012). In California, a newly formed mountain biking nonprofit aims to gain a voice at the capital with lawmakers to put trail access and trail development front and center (Formosa 2019). And, the community has much experience in planning trail networks, experience that is necessary to negotiate areas appropriate for mountain biking. In San Diego County, the local mountain biking coalition and the United States Forest Service (USFS) work in partnership to build trail networks on national forest lands; because the USFS does not have a budget for recreation, the only way trails will be built on national forest lands within the County is if the coalition pays the USFS for the agency’s sta time, studies and environmental review, and project-processing needed to approve the trail networks (SDMBA 2017). While the USFS-biking coalition partnership may be similar to the accepted practice of an applicant (e.g., utility) paying a lead/permitting agency to dedicate personnel to the applicant’s project(s) or a certain body of work, conflicts of interest are usually inherent in such collaborations. In addition, much of the USFS-biking coalition partnership’s planning process occurs outside of public view, prior to the public knowing anything about it. It is notable that, while not all USFS lands are considered protected areas in the meaning of this paper, the wilderness areas the USFS manages are."

Public access to the complete 126-page report CLICK HERE.

Image below showing the extent of unauthorized trails (the yellow trails on ecological preserve)
created and maintained by mt. bike riders

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