Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Trails Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ad hoc committee previews draft trail plan focused on density reduction and vernal‑pool protection
Summary
Ad hoc members presented a draft conceptual trail plan that would reduce trail density in five priority areas, reroute trails away from vernal pools and close eroded or inappropriate single‑track routes; staff emphasized on‑the‑ground reconnaissance and broader stakeholder outreach including equestrian users.
Ad hoc committee members reported progress on a draft recreation and trails plan for the preserve, presenting a conceptual map that identified five priority areas to reduce trail density, close informal or eroded trails, and reroute segments away from high‑value vernal pools.
Presenters said the draft is conceptual and requires field verification; some older forest roads and single‑track trails have severe erosion near high‑resource areas and may need to be closed or rerouted. The plan aims to balance natural‑resource protection with a range of recreational experiences using a ‘‘stacked loop’’ approach so different users can have looped connections without overconcentrating impacts.
Committee members asked that equestrian representatives be included in further planning because horse users helped fund a parking lot, and raised concerns about how trail changes intersect with property boundaries and easements (including a 27‑acre feature called the Notch). Staff cautioned that some parcels may not be under conservation restriction and that proximity to utility rights‑of‑way raises the possibility of future non‑forest uses such as ground‑mounted solar on unprotected parcels.
Next steps: the ad hoc committee will do further fieldwork to test reroutes, produce additional copies of the draft for public distribution, include additional stakeholders (equestrian community) and return a refined plan for committee review and public outreach.
