Royal Gorge Outreach:
Multiple Ways to Provide Input
Public Meetings
Focus Groups
Online Survey
Hikes & Property Tours
Personal Communication
Public Meetings
June 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
Public Hikes &
Property Tours
June 15: Driving tour for non-hikers
June 23: Van NordenMeadow
June 30: Snow Mountain
July 14: Lyle’s Lookout
July 20: Mt. Rowton
August 4: Point Mariah
August 11: Palisade Peak
Photo: George Lamson
Public Meeting
Takeaways
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Encourage and educate everyone to be
good stewards of land.
Obtain a thorough understanding of the
ecological values of the property.
Participants favor preservation &
conservation over recreation but
understand the need for balance.
Want low-impact recreation trail network
for all users.
FORESTRY
Have healthy, fire-safe forests.
Strong support for Land Trust forestry
plans including the fuel break around
Serene Lakes.
Public Meeting Takeaways
INFRASTRUCTURE
Support basic picnic areas at
trail heads and at scenic view
areas.
Support backcountry camping
in appropriate areas.
No fires, grills or fire pits to
address large concern about
fires.
Mixed opinions regarding
campgrounds
FACILITIES
Want facilities to be subtle and
low impact.
Want information booths or
kiosks.
Public Meeting Takeaways
TRAIL HEADS
“Improved” trailheads –
decomposed granite for parking.
Separate staging area or
designated trailer spaces for
horses.
Neighborhood access points / no
parking
Clear signage especially for
mountain bikes / equestrian --
OK and off limits trails.
Dog waste stations at trail heads.
TRAILS
Want more trails, especially
loop trails and trails that have
regional connections.
Favor a combination of
multiple use and single use
trails.
Want good signage and maps.
Use sustainable trail building
techniques.
Design trails for safety and
reduced conflict
Dogs OK with mix of leash &
voice command
Focus Groups Key TakeawaysTRAIL ORGANIZATIONS
Favor a network of multi-use trails with
some single-use trails
Spirit of “howdy”; multiple user groups
can get along
ADVOCACY GROUPS
Science and research to be most
important factor in development of land
management plan
Forest fuels management for the
protection of habitat and old growth
forest
Improve water quality and quantity for
downstream users
No consensus on Van Norden
Dam, awaiting assessment
GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES
Do minimal improvements; stay
under the radar
Multiple regulatory agencies (Fish
& Wildlife, Army Corps, Nevada &
Placer Co., USFS, SLCWD)
Slow response time from law
enforcement
Survey Key Takeaways
600 respondents to date
Top four summer Sierra activities of survey takers in order: mountain bike, hike, walk, trail run
Top activities/amenities survey takers would like to see at Royal Gorge, in order: hiking trails, mountain bike trails, camping, fishing, picnic areas, disabled use trails
Survey respondents are concerned about: conflicts with other users, increased wear & tear, general safety, unfriendly dogs
92% of respondents have participated in summer recreation in the Donner Summit / Lake Van Norden / Royal Gorge / Serene Lakes area.
Dogs kept under voice command is OK by a wide majority
Forestry Management is important to a wide majority
*Our apologies: Survey data on question 6 regarding summer use trails on the Royal Gorge Property inadvertently left out an option for equestrian & hiker only trails.
Hikes & property tours Very popular and successful; 20-40 participants per hike/tour on average
Brings awareness of the natural environment at Royal Gorge (forest,
wildflowers, wildlife, ecosystem, geology)
Confirms this a great summer place to recreate
Property “shows well.”
Thank you to our hike leaders (stand-up and take a bow!)
Personal Communication
23 Emails & letters received by the Land Trust
All correspondence responded to and added to the
public record.
Most correspondence expressing opinions
regarding Lake Van Norden Dam and mountain bike
/ equestrian use of trails.
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