August 2016 Advocacy Minutes
Advocacy Meeting
August 8, 2016 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
4499 Ruffin Road, San Diego
Ben Stone – Advocacy Committee Chairperson/Vice-President SDMBA
Meeting Begins at 6 PM
Welcome and Introductions (Ben Stone)
Board Members Present:
Kevin Loomis – President
Ben Stone – Vice President
Susie Murphy – Executive Director
Robert Hubbard
Jeff Tanzola
Minette Ozaki
(Full attendance list at the end of minutes)
Trish Boaz – director of San Diego River Valley Conservancy
Dave Hekel, senior ranger in San Diego River Park
Guest Speaker:
-Trish Boaz, Executive Director, San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy/Coast to Crest Trail
Works with Dave Hekel, who is a ranger and the SD River Valley Conservancy’s partner with River Park.
The Conservancy is a 503c non-profit.
Moved to San Diego in 1982, worked in land use environmental law
Worked in department of planning/land use. Helped plan Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP)
Helps to denote where it is appropriate to give public access, including bike riding.
Mission is to converse, educate, and recreate
To conserve public and natural resources and natural habitats, and also build out the Coast to Crest trail. This trail, upon its completion, will travel all the way from coast in Del Mar to Julian (Volcan Mountain)
SDRP and SD river valley – what is the difference? Most in the public don’t really know.
It is easier for a non profit to get donated funding than for a government agency. Much of the funding at one time was from grants and many of these were only eligible for the non profit.
Since they are are a non profit, they do advocate but do not provide comment on legislation.
They are in the “heart of the county” of the watersheds, right in the middle of the county.
All new trails are within the focus planning area.
346 mile watershed, 94,000 acre planning area
Conservation
$91 million wetland restoration project – to offset negatives from power plant
Sweetwater, TJ River Valley, etc had to fight for funding but the coastal commission decided to do the wetland restoration by the San Dieguito Lagoon.
22nd district agricultural association. This is where the Coast to Crest trail will begin next year.
Lagoon north bank restoration – multi use except for horses.
Bernardo mountain funding through REI, trail work will be able to be done on the Bernardo Summit trail later this year.
Works on Del Dios gorge restoration and taking out of eucalyptus trees
Education
Exploring our sense of place: 250 people go from Volcan Mountain to the Lagoon and at each of the stops, there is a different hike and an overview of each area. Mammal tracking, water quality, archaeology, etc.
Citizen scientist monitoring program. 80 people: count birds, plants, etc and survey.
Also connecting students with nature throughout the lagoon areas
Watershed explorers program, funded by grants from SD foundation
Able to learn about watersheds, resources, etc.
Birdwing area – REI holds classes there.
Recreation
The Birdwing is very close to the Coast to Crest trail. Across from the fairgrounds not far away. All these trails are open to bikes.
River Park Del Mar is now open to the public. Jimmy Durante boulevard goes along the San Dieguito lagoon. It will hook up with Crest Canyon and go through Torrey Pines soon. There will be a new brewery over there soon as well.
Funding for these project: $250,000 grants $20,000 plus $60,000 from county and then fundraised $180,000.
1.5 years ago the coastal commission voted for the boardwalk to be removed.
Rallied to save the San Dieguito lagoon boardwalk. The western 600 feet of the boardwalk is staying, but part of it will be removed. Instead, the trail will be going along.
Coast to Crest trail – the River Park put up a status map for the trail. Everything in green has been completed, but yellow and red are not currently open.
Volcan Mountain – headwaters of the san dieguito river.
Then goes to Lake Sutherland, still one of the areas being worked on.
Volcan Mountain question from Kevin – bikes are only allowed on the road currently. Are there future sections that will be multi-use?
Trish will get back to Kevin as far as that question
Can only pick up trail at Santa Ysabel – east and fire road/ranch road
Santa Ysabel section will connect to Sutherland. There should not be much road in that area.There will be at least 10-15 miles of trail there, more remote setting.
REI donated for every vote during the Every Trail Connects campaign. Conservancy has matched funds as well.
Another 12 mile sections will be completed.
The trail will be contoured, according to Dave. Ready to go as early as winter. They are subject to same ramifications as anyone else.
Overview of Coast to Crest Trail, east to west
Santa Maria creek – northwest of Ramona grasslands
San Pasqual valley
Sikes Adobe – does a summer series and Halloween special
Lake Hodges bridge – named after a former county planning commissioner/ David Kreitzer
Bernardo Mountain – area to be worked on. Bernardo summit trail.
Santa Fe Valley
Ride will be done in October for Coast to Crest trail. PDF can be sent out.
Meetup group, community events
San Dieguito River Valley – want more people to be able to access it.
Dave: Races are well-run/promoted. Rides are also supported, stands are supported.
Kevin: thank you for an agency that can embrace things quickly and is very easy to work with.
Open spaces are not set up for recreation, they are set up for conservation. Having events, recreation can be done with hard work
MSCP drafting – original intent was not to add species – it was intended to be a “no surprise” policy. Multiple species conservation program. Most of open space is Multiple Habitat Planning Area.
Supposed to balance the need for growth with the ability to sustain life
Question from Andy – what can we do to help with this large section of trail? Trish: Currently, we are making quite a bit of progress. Each of the sections of trail are nearly accounted for.
Opened up registrations for fall – Trails and Ales. First Saturday of every month from September-December. Nice hikes combined with a local brew pub.
Regular trail work at Lake Hodges: second Sunday of every month – except for during the summer. That will be back up again ASAP
Dee Folse, SDMBA member, Lyme Disease Awareness presentation
5-7 years ago, he noticed something was wrong.
had to take time off work, had a high risk job
CDC thinks that lyme is only in certain geographic locations, but it is present in San Diego
Has Lyme disease and contracted it here, but lived with it until it was very bad 2.5 years ago. Has been fighting with antibiotics ever since.
Ticks – if you are bitten by a tick, you must kill it and get it off you. Use tweezers, etc. to pull it out carefully without detaching the head. If you find a tick, put it in a bag and save it for testing.
Symptoms of Lyme: Muscle pains, brain fog, terrible flu, incredible fatigue
Was only diagnosed about 1.5 years ago
Chronic lyme becomes a program. The earlier it is diagnosed, the better.
A tick can cause lyme disease. If you see a doctor after getting bitten by a tick, has to be a lyme-literate doctor.
Dee’s contact information is available via Facebook.
Has chronic lyme disease, but you can get into a “maintenance” stages
Acute lyme, soon after it is contracted – doxycycline is 85% accurate to get rid of Lyme disease.
Was misdiagnosed many times and it got progressively worse
Most likely contracted it around the la costa area – “tick check”.
Lyme goes down eastern seaboard, up california border. A new facility in Carlsbad is being built, dedicated to Lyme research.
Public awareness needs to be increased, we can publish some good resources.
Doctor that is seeing Dee currently is at the Institute of Specialized Medicine – but according to the doctors, “Nobody comes there first”. They are a great resource.
Only 50% of people have a bullseye rash or recollection that they got bitten by a tick.
30,000 cases in the U.S. jumped to a reported to 300,000 in the last year.
Fanita Ranch Update (Ben Stone)
Not much to report. There is a fence on Strathmore that was torn open again and was put up.
Please do not park there! Do not use any entrances from there!
It upsets the owners, who complain to City of Santee, and Santee reports to the bigger landowner that we are attempting to work with.
We could see a plan by the end of this year that could be implemented to get the trails legalized.
San Diego River Park Foundation- (Ben Stone) update
Trails set to begin in eastern San Diego – near Cuyamaca and the Kelly Ditch trail.
Includes the hike down to cedar creek/devil’s punch bowl
Eagle peak road to cedar creek falls
Camelback – fire road not included on proposed recommended wilderness.
History of Wilderness:
Sierra Club sued forest service. Forest service then over-identified wilderness in San Diego.
Eagle Peak, Sill Hill, etc. were all identified recommended wilderness.
There is no large ownership of these areas. There are potentially great areas to build trails.
Back in 2010, negotiations were happening between SDRP foundation and land was being purchased. If they were able to purchase land close to wilderness, proposed wilderness would possible get pushed back.
90% of this trail that we would like to complete already exists in an old ranch road.
-Wilderness Issue (STC)
Went to a meeting with NFS (National Forest Service), we were told that recommended wilderness will not be rolled back.
What does this mean for this trail? It means Eagle Peak Road is the only accessible place for mountain bikes.
Trail would go along 3-5 miles of road, downhill, trail, old ranch roads, come down to meet SDR holdings. Instead of 15-17 miles of singletrack/road, it would have to be about 12 miles of road if wilderness is not rolled back.
Gave us 2 options: 1. Amending the forest service plan that would allow wilderness to be moved back 2. To allow MTB access to trail within recommended wilderness. Not aware if this has been done before. Would set a “dangerous precedent” according to the Forest Service.
If we can get around, we can get up to Ramona. Can ride the Flume Trail all the way up to Lake Jennings. Would be a good shuttle ride.
San Diego River Park was disappointed, but we are the ones most affected. Now the segment we were supposed to work on will end on a homestead property that takes you into incredible views. Will dead end into proposed wilderness.
Go to elected officials, once we have gotten something together that is sellable.
There is not much that is rideable in that area. Really no other way to get west. Gardner has been working on this for awhile.
Wilderness only becomes 100% when it has been made a bill and is passed in congress.
We cannot build trails or ride in the wilderness.
The recommended wilderness is our largest problem. It has not necessarily been put together as wilderness, has not been passed, but is potentially acceptable for wilderness.
Wilderness was intended to make roadless, pristine areas, but this has not necessarily been the case.
Sierra Club may want to move boundary and Will M. may not want to push this.
Duncan Hunter’s office has been our best advocate for MCAS Miramar area/land and Scott Peters would also be willing to work with us
This idea will encompass many, many miles of trail that will become an Epic. There needs to be a through trail in order to make it rideable for mountain bikes.
Is this something that our organization wants to get behind?
This is low-hanging fruit, potentially. Anything we want between now and then, has to be something already built that could be brought in. The trail there already exists. National Forest Service will not be doing a revision until 2026. The only way to make this work is to push the wilderness back.
If it is feasible, we should do it. There are no downsides to this. Can we get school bike clubs involved?
Timing will be crucial, we have the potential for more work with Laguna and Noble with National Forest Service. Trail Liaisons meeting with Recreation Officer of Laguna on 8/17.
There will be coordination between SDRP and our foundation
Having the maps laid out and putting something out to the public would be helpful.
Coast to Crest, North to South trail, etc. if we get all of these trails built and legalized in the next 10-20 years, we will be able to ride hundreds of miles through the county.
Walk through of trail system:
Begin in Cuyamaca State Park.
Kelly Ditch trail – goes through private land and ends at county park. The current connection – road (Cedar Creek) for about 5 miles to Eagle Peak.
Paved and unpaved scenic road. Then, 3 miles of great trail – homestead property – then go down ranch road which would descend.
Then down into new trail, then ranch road.
Would then take Camelback which takes you down to Devil’s Punch Nowl.
Then, pick up an exposed connection up to Four Corners.
New set of singletrack to take you around ramona.
Then picks up Flume trail.
Drop about 5,000 feet of elevation, goes up maybe 1,000 feet.
From Flume, can get over to lake jennings. About 3 miles of trail still needs to be built.
Also potentially to connect with El Cajon mountain and then go to Oak Oasis. Go across 79 into Stowe Trail area.
Connection that already exists – Foster Truck Trail that crosses the 79 and takes you to Oak.
Robert Hubbard – will this backfire in other parts of the park?
As long as we continue a good relationship with our districts, we should have a good relationship overall.
Jeff has been working for a long time with the Girl Scouts – he knows the small sections off of Eagle Peak road. They would be great partners for Take a Kid MTB day, trail building, etc. Two camps up there where they have a good chunk of land. Potential there.
MCAS/Stowe Trail update – (Ben Stone/Kevin Loomis)
Information on Stowe Trail – SDMBA leadership is still working with Marines on this issue. More info to come soon.
Main points: this is a historic trail that has been around for hundreds of years and used by mountain bikers. It is central to northern San Diego.
Non-public land out there encroaches boundaries of MCAS Miramar. Bikes were confiscated, we have been trying to get this access for 20 years.
Huge meetings, congress affiliation, and press created a great opportunity.
Duncan Hunter went and talked to Washington, D.C. and talked directly to Marines. It came back to San Diego and people we able to get their bikes back and an agreement is to be reached with the Marines.
The trail is dug up right at the Stowe Trail currently by Homefed for house planning. It will continue to be graded and will start to be built in 1.5 years. The road ends right at MCAS.
There are many many trails that go into that area. There will be thousands of people attempting to use this trail that will go into the base. What can we do to help keep people in the area from going onto this trail?
Things are in discussion, the City needs to help us to purchase some land from where Pardee owns to connect it.
Currently we are dead ended, but we actually have parties that are willing to help.
The other option and fix would be to work with Homefed, to get Homefed to give the county an easement to connect up to Fanita Way. That would alleviate the problem on strathmore. They would be able to include parking.
Stowe has not been forgotten, but it is being worked on.
CDFW (fish and wildlife) issues (Ben)
Still an issue, asking if someone wants to start a dialogue with a representative. They will not take our calls for the most part. The ted Williams, Calaveras area, etc. will not talk to us. This affects access to all of the areas listed below:
Foster Truck Trail – potentially another connection from Sycamore canyon to Oak
Del Mar Mesa – potential connecting across to link two sides
Calaveras
Teds
The idea first is start this dialogue with a representative.
Someone has to start calling and emailing about this.
CDFW is not conservation only, they actually are supposed to have recreation in their area.
Coast to Crest trail was barred, temporarily, because of CDFW
Who would like to make this connection? Come to Ben if you are interested.
Castlerock project date June 2016 grading has begun (One year) Ben
See notes above in item 6.
STC Bill Human-Powered Travel in Wilderness Areas Act, S.3205 (Ben/Kevin)
BIll is in congress, we need to push harder on this.
We were one of the first MTB groups to reach out to STC to show support.
Help to modify the wilderness act to bring back to original format. Any sort of mechanized use in wilderness is currently barred (Bike, wheelbarrow, chainsaw, etc.)
Bill has been introduced by congressmen in Utah (Hatch and Lee). We need people to support it, because without support we do not have a voice.
Go to the STC website, their website explains historical and original documents. www.sustainabletrailscoalition.org
With this bill, local land managers would have decision to allow mechanized use. If this was in the act, then we would be able to talk more about some trails being built.
send emails to congress and representatives. We should be encouraging the whole membership to do this.
There is wilderness in pine creek, for example that could be a huge connection that we cannot touch currently.
Help land managers to make local decisions in the future – a Facebook post will come this week!
Vacancy on City of San Diego Open Space Canyons Advisory Committee (Susie)
Need a mountain biker on this committee – Kim Wiley was the representative.
Qualifications: Individual who actively recreates in open space canyons.
Only one advocate. Quarterly meetings getting to know other people on that committee.
To assist with ongoing review of urban open space canyons. Applications are due by the 9th of September.
See Susie Murphy if interested.
Updates (Non-discussion items)
Tecolote Trails plan – (Evan) – (In progress 2016 build 2017)
Black Mountain/Black Widow (Matt/Susie Winter 2016)
Open Volunteer positions List (Ben Stone)
San Diego County Bike Park (Jason Showalter)
Del Mar Mesa Surrounding Development
Rock House / San Diego Wildlife Refuge- update (Jose/Jason)
Otay Valley Regional Park – (Jose)
Tijuana River Valley (Jose)
Palm Canyon Update (in Progress Decision September)
San Diego County PLDO Funds
Village 13 Projected Date?
Mission Trails Master Plan (Summer 2016)
Additional notes/questions:
Alpine by Anderson Truck Trail. Viejas police do patrolling for some of those areas.
SDRP foundation now has purchased most of the road leading up to that. Capitan Grande Reservation owns the part where World Cup is, Dumb Down, etc. The shuttle road to take up is on Forest Service land. Reservoir is in the City of San Diego.
Water level is currently at 22%.
Forest service is decommissioning part of the ATT – will attempt to destroy part of the road. We attempted to object, but until there is a legal route they don’t want to consider it. Wanting to decommission service roads.
Meeting ends at 8:16 PM.
Advocacy Committee Meeting Attendees:
Minette Ozaki
Jan Charvat
Philip Erdelsky
Piet Birch
Jeff Tanzola
Jeff Staller
Mark Webb
Josh Bonnici
Albro Daniel
Walt Devine
Casey Goodge
Seth Hanson
Dee Folse
Bob Ponting
Jacqui Slavin
Matt Bartelt
Susie Murphy
Siobhan Baloochi
Kevin Loomis
Ben Stone
Chuck Hickey
Rod Simmons
Ranger Dave Hekel
Robert Hubbard
Andy Darragh
Next meeting: TUESDAY, September 6, 2016 (*note schedule change due to holiday)
Minutes recorded by: Siobhan Baloochi, SDMBA secretary
August 8, 2016 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
4499 Ruffin Road, San Diego
Ben Stone – Advocacy Committee Chairperson/Vice-President SDMBA
Meeting Begins at 6 PM
Welcome and Introductions (Ben Stone)
Board Members Present:
Kevin Loomis – President
Ben Stone – Vice President
Susie Murphy – Executive Director
Robert Hubbard
Jeff Tanzola
Minette Ozaki
(Full attendance list at the end of minutes)
Trish Boaz – director of San Diego River Valley Conservancy
Dave Hekel, senior ranger in San Diego River Park
Guest Speaker:
-Trish Boaz, Executive Director, San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy/Coast to Crest Trail
Works with Dave Hekel, who is a ranger and the SD River Valley Conservancy’s partner with River Park.
The Conservancy is a 503c non-profit.
Moved to San Diego in 1982, worked in land use environmental law
Worked in department of planning/land use. Helped plan Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP)
Helps to denote where it is appropriate to give public access, including bike riding.
Mission is to converse, educate, and recreate
To conserve public and natural resources and natural habitats, and also build out the Coast to Crest trail. This trail, upon its completion, will travel all the way from coast in Del Mar to Julian (Volcan Mountain)
SDRP and SD river valley – what is the difference? Most in the public don’t really know.
It is easier for a non profit to get donated funding than for a government agency. Much of the funding at one time was from grants and many of these were only eligible for the non profit.
Since they are are a non profit, they do advocate but do not provide comment on legislation.
They are in the “heart of the county” of the watersheds, right in the middle of the county.
All new trails are within the focus planning area.
346 mile watershed, 94,000 acre planning area
Conservation
$91 million wetland restoration project – to offset negatives from power plant
Sweetwater, TJ River Valley, etc had to fight for funding but the coastal commission decided to do the wetland restoration by the San Dieguito Lagoon.
22nd district agricultural association. This is where the Coast to Crest trail will begin next year.
Lagoon north bank restoration – multi use except for horses.
Bernardo mountain funding through REI, trail work will be able to be done on the Bernardo Summit trail later this year.
Works on Del Dios gorge restoration and taking out of eucalyptus trees
Education
Exploring our sense of place: 250 people go from Volcan Mountain to the Lagoon and at each of the stops, there is a different hike and an overview of each area. Mammal tracking, water quality, archaeology, etc.
Citizen scientist monitoring program. 80 people: count birds, plants, etc and survey.
Also connecting students with nature throughout the lagoon areas
Watershed explorers program, funded by grants from SD foundation
Able to learn about watersheds, resources, etc.
Birdwing area – REI holds classes there.
Recreation
The Birdwing is very close to the Coast to Crest trail. Across from the fairgrounds not far away. All these trails are open to bikes.
River Park Del Mar is now open to the public. Jimmy Durante boulevard goes along the San Dieguito lagoon. It will hook up with Crest Canyon and go through Torrey Pines soon. There will be a new brewery over there soon as well.
Funding for these project: $250,000 grants $20,000 plus $60,000 from county and then fundraised $180,000.
1.5 years ago the coastal commission voted for the boardwalk to be removed.
Rallied to save the San Dieguito lagoon boardwalk. The western 600 feet of the boardwalk is staying, but part of it will be removed. Instead, the trail will be going along.
Coast to Crest trail – the River Park put up a status map for the trail. Everything in green has been completed, but yellow and red are not currently open.
Volcan Mountain – headwaters of the san dieguito river.
Then goes to Lake Sutherland, still one of the areas being worked on.
Volcan Mountain question from Kevin – bikes are only allowed on the road currently. Are there future sections that will be multi-use?
Trish will get back to Kevin as far as that question
Can only pick up trail at Santa Ysabel – east and fire road/ranch road
Santa Ysabel section will connect to Sutherland. There should not be much road in that area.There will be at least 10-15 miles of trail there, more remote setting.
REI donated for every vote during the Every Trail Connects campaign. Conservancy has matched funds as well.
Another 12 mile sections will be completed.
The trail will be contoured, according to Dave. Ready to go as early as winter. They are subject to same ramifications as anyone else.
Overview of Coast to Crest Trail, east to west
Santa Maria creek – northwest of Ramona grasslands
San Pasqual valley
Sikes Adobe – does a summer series and Halloween special
Lake Hodges bridge – named after a former county planning commissioner/ David Kreitzer
Bernardo Mountain – area to be worked on. Bernardo summit trail.
Santa Fe Valley
Ride will be done in October for Coast to Crest trail. PDF can be sent out.
Meetup group, community events
San Dieguito River Valley – want more people to be able to access it.
Dave: Races are well-run/promoted. Rides are also supported, stands are supported.
Kevin: thank you for an agency that can embrace things quickly and is very easy to work with.
Open spaces are not set up for recreation, they are set up for conservation. Having events, recreation can be done with hard work
MSCP drafting – original intent was not to add species – it was intended to be a “no surprise” policy. Multiple species conservation program. Most of open space is Multiple Habitat Planning Area.
Supposed to balance the need for growth with the ability to sustain life
Question from Andy – what can we do to help with this large section of trail? Trish: Currently, we are making quite a bit of progress. Each of the sections of trail are nearly accounted for.
Opened up registrations for fall – Trails and Ales. First Saturday of every month from September-December. Nice hikes combined with a local brew pub.
Regular trail work at Lake Hodges: second Sunday of every month – except for during the summer. That will be back up again ASAP
Dee Folse, SDMBA member, Lyme Disease Awareness presentation
5-7 years ago, he noticed something was wrong.
had to take time off work, had a high risk job
CDC thinks that lyme is only in certain geographic locations, but it is present in San Diego
Has Lyme disease and contracted it here, but lived with it until it was very bad 2.5 years ago. Has been fighting with antibiotics ever since.
Ticks – if you are bitten by a tick, you must kill it and get it off you. Use tweezers, etc. to pull it out carefully without detaching the head. If you find a tick, put it in a bag and save it for testing.
Symptoms of Lyme: Muscle pains, brain fog, terrible flu, incredible fatigue
Was only diagnosed about 1.5 years ago
Chronic lyme becomes a program. The earlier it is diagnosed, the better.
A tick can cause lyme disease. If you see a doctor after getting bitten by a tick, has to be a lyme-literate doctor.
Dee’s contact information is available via Facebook.
Has chronic lyme disease, but you can get into a “maintenance” stages
Acute lyme, soon after it is contracted – doxycycline is 85% accurate to get rid of Lyme disease.
Was misdiagnosed many times and it got progressively worse
Most likely contracted it around the la costa area – “tick check”.
Lyme goes down eastern seaboard, up california border. A new facility in Carlsbad is being built, dedicated to Lyme research.
Public awareness needs to be increased, we can publish some good resources.
Doctor that is seeing Dee currently is at the Institute of Specialized Medicine – but according to the doctors, “Nobody comes there first”. They are a great resource.
Only 50% of people have a bullseye rash or recollection that they got bitten by a tick.
30,000 cases in the U.S. jumped to a reported to 300,000 in the last year.
Fanita Ranch Update (Ben Stone)
Not much to report. There is a fence on Strathmore that was torn open again and was put up.
Please do not park there! Do not use any entrances from there!
It upsets the owners, who complain to City of Santee, and Santee reports to the bigger landowner that we are attempting to work with.
We could see a plan by the end of this year that could be implemented to get the trails legalized.
San Diego River Park Foundation- (Ben Stone) update
Trails set to begin in eastern San Diego – near Cuyamaca and the Kelly Ditch trail.
Includes the hike down to cedar creek/devil’s punch bowl
Eagle peak road to cedar creek falls
Camelback – fire road not included on proposed recommended wilderness.
History of Wilderness:
Sierra Club sued forest service. Forest service then over-identified wilderness in San Diego.
Eagle Peak, Sill Hill, etc. were all identified recommended wilderness.
There is no large ownership of these areas. There are potentially great areas to build trails.
Back in 2010, negotiations were happening between SDRP foundation and land was being purchased. If they were able to purchase land close to wilderness, proposed wilderness would possible get pushed back.
90% of this trail that we would like to complete already exists in an old ranch road.
-Wilderness Issue (STC)
Went to a meeting with NFS (National Forest Service), we were told that recommended wilderness will not be rolled back.
What does this mean for this trail? It means Eagle Peak Road is the only accessible place for mountain bikes.
Trail would go along 3-5 miles of road, downhill, trail, old ranch roads, come down to meet SDR holdings. Instead of 15-17 miles of singletrack/road, it would have to be about 12 miles of road if wilderness is not rolled back.
Gave us 2 options: 1. Amending the forest service plan that would allow wilderness to be moved back 2. To allow MTB access to trail within recommended wilderness. Not aware if this has been done before. Would set a “dangerous precedent” according to the Forest Service.
If we can get around, we can get up to Ramona. Can ride the Flume Trail all the way up to Lake Jennings. Would be a good shuttle ride.
San Diego River Park was disappointed, but we are the ones most affected. Now the segment we were supposed to work on will end on a homestead property that takes you into incredible views. Will dead end into proposed wilderness.
Go to elected officials, once we have gotten something together that is sellable.
There is not much that is rideable in that area. Really no other way to get west. Gardner has been working on this for awhile.
Wilderness only becomes 100% when it has been made a bill and is passed in congress.
We cannot build trails or ride in the wilderness.
The recommended wilderness is our largest problem. It has not necessarily been put together as wilderness, has not been passed, but is potentially acceptable for wilderness.
Wilderness was intended to make roadless, pristine areas, but this has not necessarily been the case.
Sierra Club may want to move boundary and Will M. may not want to push this.
Duncan Hunter’s office has been our best advocate for MCAS Miramar area/land and Scott Peters would also be willing to work with us
This idea will encompass many, many miles of trail that will become an Epic. There needs to be a through trail in order to make it rideable for mountain bikes.
Is this something that our organization wants to get behind?
This is low-hanging fruit, potentially. Anything we want between now and then, has to be something already built that could be brought in. The trail there already exists. National Forest Service will not be doing a revision until 2026. The only way to make this work is to push the wilderness back.
If it is feasible, we should do it. There are no downsides to this. Can we get school bike clubs involved?
Timing will be crucial, we have the potential for more work with Laguna and Noble with National Forest Service. Trail Liaisons meeting with Recreation Officer of Laguna on 8/17.
There will be coordination between SDRP and our foundation
Having the maps laid out and putting something out to the public would be helpful.
Coast to Crest, North to South trail, etc. if we get all of these trails built and legalized in the next 10-20 years, we will be able to ride hundreds of miles through the county.
Walk through of trail system:
Begin in Cuyamaca State Park.
Kelly Ditch trail – goes through private land and ends at county park. The current connection – road (Cedar Creek) for about 5 miles to Eagle Peak.
Paved and unpaved scenic road. Then, 3 miles of great trail – homestead property – then go down ranch road which would descend.
Then down into new trail, then ranch road.
Would then take Camelback which takes you down to Devil’s Punch Nowl.
Then, pick up an exposed connection up to Four Corners.
New set of singletrack to take you around ramona.
Then picks up Flume trail.
Drop about 5,000 feet of elevation, goes up maybe 1,000 feet.
From Flume, can get over to lake jennings. About 3 miles of trail still needs to be built.
Also potentially to connect with El Cajon mountain and then go to Oak Oasis. Go across 79 into Stowe Trail area.
Connection that already exists – Foster Truck Trail that crosses the 79 and takes you to Oak.
Robert Hubbard – will this backfire in other parts of the park?
As long as we continue a good relationship with our districts, we should have a good relationship overall.
Jeff has been working for a long time with the Girl Scouts – he knows the small sections off of Eagle Peak road. They would be great partners for Take a Kid MTB day, trail building, etc. Two camps up there where they have a good chunk of land. Potential there.
MCAS/Stowe Trail update – (Ben Stone/Kevin Loomis)
Information on Stowe Trail – SDMBA leadership is still working with Marines on this issue. More info to come soon.
Main points: this is a historic trail that has been around for hundreds of years and used by mountain bikers. It is central to northern San Diego.
Non-public land out there encroaches boundaries of MCAS Miramar. Bikes were confiscated, we have been trying to get this access for 20 years.
Huge meetings, congress affiliation, and press created a great opportunity.
Duncan Hunter went and talked to Washington, D.C. and talked directly to Marines. It came back to San Diego and people we able to get their bikes back and an agreement is to be reached with the Marines.
The trail is dug up right at the Stowe Trail currently by Homefed for house planning. It will continue to be graded and will start to be built in 1.5 years. The road ends right at MCAS.
There are many many trails that go into that area. There will be thousands of people attempting to use this trail that will go into the base. What can we do to help keep people in the area from going onto this trail?
Things are in discussion, the City needs to help us to purchase some land from where Pardee owns to connect it.
Currently we are dead ended, but we actually have parties that are willing to help.
The other option and fix would be to work with Homefed, to get Homefed to give the county an easement to connect up to Fanita Way. That would alleviate the problem on strathmore. They would be able to include parking.
Stowe has not been forgotten, but it is being worked on.
CDFW (fish and wildlife) issues (Ben)
Still an issue, asking if someone wants to start a dialogue with a representative. They will not take our calls for the most part. The ted Williams, Calaveras area, etc. will not talk to us. This affects access to all of the areas listed below:
Foster Truck Trail – potentially another connection from Sycamore canyon to Oak
Del Mar Mesa – potential connecting across to link two sides
Calaveras
Teds
The idea first is start this dialogue with a representative.
Someone has to start calling and emailing about this.
CDFW is not conservation only, they actually are supposed to have recreation in their area.
Coast to Crest trail was barred, temporarily, because of CDFW
Who would like to make this connection? Come to Ben if you are interested.
Castlerock project date June 2016 grading has begun (One year) Ben
See notes above in item 6.
STC Bill Human-Powered Travel in Wilderness Areas Act, S.3205 (Ben/Kevin)
BIll is in congress, we need to push harder on this.
We were one of the first MTB groups to reach out to STC to show support.
Help to modify the wilderness act to bring back to original format. Any sort of mechanized use in wilderness is currently barred (Bike, wheelbarrow, chainsaw, etc.)
Bill has been introduced by congressmen in Utah (Hatch and Lee). We need people to support it, because without support we do not have a voice.
Go to the STC website, their website explains historical and original documents. www.sustainabletrailscoalition.org
With this bill, local land managers would have decision to allow mechanized use. If this was in the act, then we would be able to talk more about some trails being built.
send emails to congress and representatives. We should be encouraging the whole membership to do this.
There is wilderness in pine creek, for example that could be a huge connection that we cannot touch currently.
Help land managers to make local decisions in the future – a Facebook post will come this week!
Vacancy on City of San Diego Open Space Canyons Advisory Committee (Susie)
Need a mountain biker on this committee – Kim Wiley was the representative.
Qualifications: Individual who actively recreates in open space canyons.
Only one advocate. Quarterly meetings getting to know other people on that committee.
To assist with ongoing review of urban open space canyons. Applications are due by the 9th of September.
See Susie Murphy if interested.
Updates (Non-discussion items)
Tecolote Trails plan – (Evan) – (In progress 2016 build 2017)
Black Mountain/Black Widow (Matt/Susie Winter 2016)
Open Volunteer positions List (Ben Stone)
San Diego County Bike Park (Jason Showalter)
Del Mar Mesa Surrounding Development
Rock House / San Diego Wildlife Refuge- update (Jose/Jason)
Otay Valley Regional Park – (Jose)
Tijuana River Valley (Jose)
Palm Canyon Update (in Progress Decision September)
San Diego County PLDO Funds
Village 13 Projected Date?
Mission Trails Master Plan (Summer 2016)
Additional notes/questions:
Alpine by Anderson Truck Trail. Viejas police do patrolling for some of those areas.
SDRP foundation now has purchased most of the road leading up to that. Capitan Grande Reservation owns the part where World Cup is, Dumb Down, etc. The shuttle road to take up is on Forest Service land. Reservoir is in the City of San Diego.
Water level is currently at 22%.
Forest service is decommissioning part of the ATT – will attempt to destroy part of the road. We attempted to object, but until there is a legal route they don’t want to consider it. Wanting to decommission service roads.
Meeting ends at 8:16 PM.
Advocacy Committee Meeting Attendees:
Minette Ozaki
Jan Charvat
Philip Erdelsky
Piet Birch
Jeff Tanzola
Jeff Staller
Mark Webb
Josh Bonnici
Albro Daniel
Walt Devine
Casey Goodge
Seth Hanson
Dee Folse
Bob Ponting
Jacqui Slavin
Matt Bartelt
Susie Murphy
Siobhan Baloochi
Kevin Loomis
Ben Stone
Chuck Hickey
Rod Simmons
Ranger Dave Hekel
Robert Hubbard
Andy Darragh
Next meeting: TUESDAY, September 6, 2016 (*note schedule change due to holiday)
Minutes recorded by: Siobhan Baloochi, SDMBA secretary