Committee backs wooden-post trial to reduce high‑banking and trail widening on Fins and Things

Mark Pope, a Stewardship Committee member and volunteer trail worker, presented photos showing repeated "high banking" on the north side of the Fins and Things 4x4 trail and argued that riders are widening the trail and leaving the tread to avoid rocks. "I have been concerned for a while about high banking... Riders are leaving the trail completely to drive on the high bank and avoid the rocks," Pope said, urging trial installations of wooden posts at the beginning of curves to keep vehicles on the trail.

Sand Flats Director Andrea Brand summarized past mitigation attempts — county road crew knock‑downs, T‑posts and fencing — and agreed that a modest, reflective wooden‑post approach could be tried at a few locations. SFRA recreation technician Matt Millin and BLM’s Jennifer Jones supported measured, low‑profile interventions and discussed spacing and reflector needs; the committee favored a discreet rollout and outreach to partner groups rather than a large media announcement.