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California Mountain Bicyclists: Please Write to Save Trails at Lake Oroville
-- Public Comment Ends Feb. 29, 2004
For Immediate Release: 2/17/04
California mountain bicyclists need to write the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) immediately to save mountain bike trail access at Lake Oroville. Public comment ends Feb. 29.
In spring 2002, California State Parks opened 17 miles of trail at Lake Oroville to mountain bicycling. Lake Oroville is located about 80 miles north of Sacramento in the Sierra foothills. Since then, hikers, cyclists and equestrians have shared the trail system with no significant user conflicts.
Unfortunately, a few vocal equestrians have petitioned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to overrule California State Parks' shared-use trail management policy at Lake Oroville. The power-producing dam and the land at Lake Oroville are under FERC's jurisdiction, giving them authority on trail regulation.
Despite a clear, two-year record of successful shared-use, FERC has recommended that bicycles be banned. The reasoning behind the recommendation is flawed, and reflects little understanding of the needs or impacts of cyclists. If it is accepted, the trails will be closed to bicycle use and a bad precedent will be set, encouraging agencies to respond to individual complaints, rather than adhere to sound management principles.
It is critical that California mountain bicyclists write letters to challenge FERC's recommendation and support the efforts of California State Parks to provide great riding opportunities. A proper trail management decision at Oroville will protect trail access in other California state parks. This is an issue that affects everyone who rides in California.
Please write to:
Magalie R. Salas, Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20426
You're letter should reference:
"Feather River Project, FERC Project No. 2100-119"Points to make in your letter:
* There is solid science, recreation and management literature to justify shared-use trails at Lake Oroville.
* California State Parks has a long, successful history of managing trail recreation (including mountain biking).
* California State Parks uses well-crafted policies and guidelines to help them make decisions regarding trail use. State Parks followed these policies and guidelines to determine that trails should be multiple use.
* At Lake Oroville, State Parks initiated a public process where hikers, equestrians, bicyclists and other stakeholders could participate in decision-making.
* The vocal objections of a few critics do not justify rejecting the decisions that were made.
* The California Recreational Trails Committee (comprising of various trail leaders appointed by the governor and representing the California trails community) unanimously supported the decision to make trails at Lake Oroville multi-use.
* FERC's Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) revealed few instances of actual trail conflict. Other than some vague complaints from one disgruntled equestrian, the EA relied upon a general statement in a bicycle guidebook that many hikers and equestrians "assert" that bikes speed and that riders can't share trails. That statement had no relevance to the trails in question.
* Professional agencies favor shared use. Supporting letters were provided by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the California Department of Water Resources, the National Park Service and the California Recreational Trails Committee. The process involved substantial involvement of stakeholders
* Neither trail impact nor water quality is at issue. FERC's assessment itself states there would be "little or no environmental effects on geology and soils, terrestrial, or cultural resources" caused by bicycle use.
* The trails in question have been open to bikes without incident for more than two years. This was the result of an extensive public review process.
* There is no evidence of safety problems. There were no accidents involving bicycles on the trails during the relevant period of time.Public comment ends Feb. 29, 2004. For more background information on the history of the decision visit: http://www.imba.com
Please send your letter today!
Contact:
Jenn Dice, IMBA government affairs director
jenn@imba.com
Jim Haagen-Smit, IMBA CA representative
jimwhs1-imba@yahoo.com
end
