Congress passed a historic package of public lands bills this week that, among other things, reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and protects nearly 2.5 million acres of public land and 676 miles of rivers throughout the U.S. The PCTA has been fighting for permanent LWCF renewal for years. In 2015, Congress reauthorized this important conservation tool for three years. It expired again last September. The fund provides money for land conservation projects and is crucial to our effort to protect the last 10 percent of the PCT that remains on private property.

​On Tuesday, the House passed the bill 363-62 and the Senate passed it two weeks ago 92-8. It now awaits the President’s signature. Thanks to all of you who participated in our advocacy efforts by contacting your elected representatives. Your voices most certainly made a difference. (Photo of Fire Creek Pass, WA by Michael DeYoung.)

To read the complete article and see more photos, go to the Pacific Crest Trail Dirt HERE. 

Volunteer Patty Murphy researched and posted on the Sterling Pointe interpretive board some excellent information about our local coyote population obtained from the National Park Service. Coyotes are are regular visitors to Sterling Pointe area and to the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area next door. If you would like to help with the work at Sterling Pointe Equestrian Staging Area, a Placer County park, contact its Volunteer Lead, Donna Williams ​(916) 837-8880.

Article in the Sierra Sun, Feb. 10. 2019,  by Jim Porter, attorney with Porter Simon, licensed in California and Nevada:

"The North Tahoe-Truckee region is a sporting mecca. We have some of the best mountain biking and better-than-average road biking as well as superb hunting, fishing, kayaking and unbelievable hiking trails leading in all directions. Every once in a while someone gets hurt while having fun on public or private land. Today's Law Review is about balancing the rights of recreational users with landowners who allow public use of their land.

TWO RECREATIONAL IMMUNITY LAWS
In 1963, California adopted a Recreational Use Statute, which makes private landowners immune from liability for injuries suffered by people who enter their land free of charge for recreational purposes. (Civil Code, § 846). Nevada has a similar law.
Also in 1963, the Legislature adopted a complementary but totally separate and more focused law protecting public entities from lawsuits filed by citizens using public roads and trails for recreational purposes. (Government Code, § 831.4)
Both laws were enacted in response to closures of large parcels of public and private land – to encourage landowners to allow use of their property for recreational activities. Good public policy.

TRAILS & BIKE PATHS
Under Government Code 831.4, public entities are not responsible for injuries caused by the condition of any unpaved road or any trail on public land which provides access to fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, riding (animal and vehicular), water sports, recreational or scenic areas. The law also protects private property owners who deed public easements to municipalities for those same recreational purposes.

​EXPANSION OF TRAIL IMMUNITY
California courts have interpreted the immunity provided by § 831.4 broadly; to now encompass unpaved and paved trails and roads, even sidewalks and paths including bike paths, used for recreational purposes, hiking, biking, skating, etc., or used for access to another recreational area. The immunity applies to the maintenance, design, location and condition of public trails and paths.
Bottom line, if you are injured on a public trail or bike path (or private trail or bike path easement-deeded to a municipality), your legal rights are limited.

RECREATIONAL USE STATUTE
Subject to three exceptions, the Recreational Use Statute (Civil Code, § 846) protects private landowners from lawsuits for injuries sustained by people who are allowed to enter their land free of charge for recreational purposes. The California Legislature has broadened the original statute in a series of cases to encourage an open-gate policy.

​SCOPE OF 846 IMMUNITY
California's landowner immunity applies to almost anyone who owns land even land controlled through an easement. And it is not limited to trails and paths.
Private landowners are not required to make their properties safe for use by others entering for recreational purposes. A "recreational purpose … includes such activities as fishing, hunting, camping, water sports, hiking, spelunking, sport parachuting, riding, including animal riding, snowmobiling, and all other types of vehicular riding, rock collecting, sightseeing, picnicking, nature study, nature contacting, recreational gardening, cleaning, hang gliding, winter sports, and viewing or enjoying historical, archeological, scenic, natural or scenic sites."

Previously, the recreationally used property had to be unimproved, that is, without any structure, to entitle an owner to immunity. Court cases have expanded the 846 immunity to improved property, such as steps, railings or even a building.

EXCEPTIONS TO STATUTE
The California Recreational Use Statute (846) creates three specific exceptions where landowners are not immune.

1. There is no immunity from liability if "landowners willfully or maliciously fail to guard or warn against a dangerous condition, use, structure or activity" on the land. If the landowner knows of the dangerous condition and knows that recreationists use the property, failure to protect or expose the owner to liability. Signage usually suffices as a warning.

2. If the landowner is paid for granting permission to enter the property for recreational purposes, the immunity does not apply. For example, the landowner leases the land for bicycle races.

3. The immunity law does not apply where the injured person was expressly invited onto the land by the owner. Cases have determined that promotional literature to the general public to hike in a national park did not constitute an "express invitation," so the immunity from liability still applies.

PUBLIC LANDS AND 846
The broad § 846 landowner immunity has generally been found by federal courts to apply to federal property used by the public for recreation.
The California Supreme Court has ruled that the immunity does not apply to state lands, although Government Code § 831.7 contains a similar landowner immunity for "hazardous recreational activity" on state lands, but with even more exceptions (more liability) than § 846.
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Jim Porter is an attorney with Porter Simon licensed in California and Nevada, with offices in Truckee and Tahoe City, California, and Reno, Nevada. Jim's practice areas include: real estate, development, construction, business, HOAs, contracts, personal injury, accidents, mediation and other transactional matters. He may be reached at [email protected] or http://www.portersimon.com

To see the original article in the Sierra Sun newspaper, CLICK HERE.