WelcomeRoyal Gorge Outreach – Wrap-up Meeting

August 31, 2013

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Agenda1. Welcome and Introduction of the Core Team – Heidi Kolbe

2. Context and Purpose of this Meeting – Janet ZipserZipkin

3. History and Outreach Process – Pat Malberg

4. Input and frame for conclusions – Ken Hall

5. Findings and Recommendations:

Van Norden Meadow and the dam – David Shaw

Forestry – Danielle Banchio

Policies and Regulations – Perry Norris

Trails Plan – John Svahn (map handout)

6. Enforcement – Perry Norris

7. On the ground next steps – Perry and John

8. Questions and Answers – Core Team

9. Written evaluation – Heidi Kolbe

10. Celebratory ending – Supervisor Jennifer Montgomery

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Public MeetingsJune 15 @ Donner Trails School –

Outreach Kick-off Meeting

126 participants + 17 table hosts

June 17 @ Truckee Cedar House –

Outreach Kick-off Meeting

46 participants + 10 table hosts

July 6 @ Serene Lakes Firehouse –

Forestry Management

87 participants + 2 presenters

July 21 @ Serene Lakes Firehouse-

Neighbors Meeting

July 29 @ Mt. Judah Lodge –

Van Norden Meadow and the Dam at

Lake Van Norden. 9:00 – 11:00 AM

August 31 @ Mt. Judah Lodge –

Final Outreach Wrap-up

9:00 – 11:00 AM

Focus Groups

Selected experts and professionals

in focus groups

July 9th, Summit Station:

Representatives from mountain

biking, hiking, and equestrian

groups

July 9th, Summit Station:

Representatives from advocacy

and environmental groups.

July 11th, Supervisor

Montgomery’s Home:

Government & Regulatory

Agencies

August 5th, Mt. Judah Lodge:

Donner Summit Business Groups

Online Survey• Opened May 2013

• Closing Mid-August 2013

Public Hikes &

Property Tours

June 15: Driving tour for non-

hikers

June 23: Van Norden

Meadow

June 30: Snow Mountain

July 14: Lyle’s Lookout

July 20: Mt. Rowton

August 4: Point Mariah

August 11: Palisade Peak

Photo: George Lamson

Personal

CommunicationPersonal communication to the

Land Trust throughout the

process.

The Outreach: What we heard

Forest Health / Fire Safety is priority #1

Keep the area rustic and simple

Subtle and low impact improvements

―Pack it in – Pack it out‖

Opening the trails is dramatic enough

Educate on good mountain stewardship

Encourage a code of etiquette

Use trail head signage

Give users a chance for input

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Over 750 people gave feedback

Preservation is urgent

Protect and preserve the historical sites

Route trails away from sensitive areas

Manage stream crossings and mitigate erosion areas

Manage for the long term

Establish an endowment for continuing support

Be open: the plans are a ―living document‖

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Thank you for the input

Provide a trail network to serve all users

Hikers, runners and walkers

Mountain Bikers--beginners and experienced

Equestrians and their trailers

Provide a safe experience

Use both multi use and single use trails

Use trail design expertise to control how the trail is used

Provide monitoring and enforcement

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Your ideas were very thoughtful

Focus improvements away from the homeowners. Especially:

Parking

High use trail heads

Equestrians

Make the trailheads modest but worthwhile

Provide signage for ―OK to Go‖ and ―Off Limits‖

Include trail maps

Rules of the road—how to enjoy the experience

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Van Norden is the Crown Jewel

Protect the nesting areas from people and dogs

Provide a Van Norden Loop Trail

Consider nature lookouts and interpretive signage

Consider a trail for disabled users

Solve the dam and preserve the lake/meadow

Continue to partner with the Forest Service

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Van Norden Meadow and

the dam – David Shaw

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Forestry – Danielle Banchio

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Recommended policies and

regulationsAfter reviewing public input and other considerations, The Core Team:

Is in favor of establishing picnic areas at trailheads and at scenic areas.

Is in favor of use of the property for organized educational and school events, especially those targeted for young people.

Is in favor of allowing dogs on the property under voice command. Of special concern are dogs disturbing nesting or foraging birds at Van Norden Meadow. The Core Team recommends dogs be allowed on leash only on the Van NordenMeadow History Trail and between the trail and the Lake.

Is not in favor of large events the would require ground disturbance (e.g. ―Tough Mudders.") Special events such as trail running or mountain biking races the Core Team recommends the Land Trust consider on a case by case basis.

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Recommended policies and

regulations (continued)After reviewing public input and other considerations, The Core Team:

Is not in favor of establishing a campground or allowing camping

on the property. The Core Team recognizes that the Land Trust

may elect to do so in the future.

Is not in favor of any kind of fire on the property, including

smoking, campfires and camp stoves. Prescribed fires for forestry

management are excluded.

Does not favor hunting on the property due to its wild/urban

interface.

Is strongly not in favor of allowing motorized vehicles on the

property except those authorized by the Land Trust.

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Recommended policies and

regulations (continued) The Core Team is not in favor of a number of

amenities and improvements such as:

Playgrounds

Horseshoe pits

Disc golf course

Community gardens

Amphitheater and community gathering spots

Concerts

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Enforcement

Regulations and trail etiquette will be posted on kiosks at all trailheads.

Kiosks will also provide a number and email address to register comments, complaints and report incidents or concerns.

Kiosks will also have voluntary registration to collect data on number of users, kind of use, and trail use.

Kiosks will also provide directional maps.

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Enforcement

Signage will clearly mark multi-use, pedestrian, etc. trails

TDLT staff and volunteers will serve as trail ambassadors five days a week. Volunteers will be trained in first aid, emergency response, conflict resolution.

Coordinating with Placer County Sheriff and SAR

Gates, boulders and signage will be placed at key access points to deter OHV.

A culture of howdy will become the norm and is our most effective tool for managing trail behavior; norms are self perpetuating.

We can’t manage for stupid.

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Thank You!

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