San Rafael, CA – Five major projects, all aimed to improve trails and restore natural habitat, are about to get underway as part of the busiest season of road and trail work in the 44-year history of the Marin County Open Space District.
County crews will start work on five projects this summer.
With Marin County Board of Supervisors
approval of its 2016-17 budget on June 22, Marin County Parks, which oversees the management of Open Space District lands, is moving forward with these projects to improve trails and restore open space lands as laid out in its
Road and Trail Management Plan (RTMP). The plan, approved in December 2014 after several years of valuable public feedback, was conceived to make roads and trails more safe, enjoyable, environmentally sustainable and financially manageable.
Jon Campo, Parks’ Senior Natural Resources Planner, said, “After a year of design, environmental review and permitting, it is a very exciting time as we are about to break ground on many road and trail projects that are the direct result of our collaborative public process.”
The five projects starting this summer are:
- improvements to Roy’s Redwoods Loop Trail in Roy’s Redwoods Preserve in the San Geronimo Valley to reduce erosion in the San Geronimo Creek Watershed and improve visitor safety;
- adoption of Candelero Canyon Trail and the Contour Trail complex and decommissioning of nearby social trails in Gary Giacomini Preserve in the San Geronimo Valley to protect plant and wildlife habitat and enhance recreational opportunities;
- re-alignment of Old Railroad Grade Trail in Loma Alta Preserve near Fairfax to reduce erosion in the San Anselmo Creek Watershed and enhance recreational experience;
- adoption of the Octopus Trail, a multiuse connector in Camino Alto Preserve between Mill Valley and Corte Madera and decommissioning of surrounding social trails to protect habitat and enhance recreational opportunities; and
- adoption of the Fairway Trail and decommissioning of nearby social trails to protect plant and wildlife habitat and enhance recreational opportunities in Camino Alto Preserve.
“The RTMP helps us establish and maintain clear internal priorities for maintenance and system improvements,” said Carl Somers, Parks’ Chief of Planning & Acquisition. “By the time the plan is fully implemented, the open space trails will be consistently signed and maintained. The result is going to be a better experience for our visitors and reduced impacts on the natural environment.”
The RTMP provides Marin County Parks with its first-ever science-based, comprehensive plan to address the complex challenges of the road and trails within open space preserves. As a key component, the RTMP establishes a fair and transparent public inclusive process that guides the Parks in its efforts to protect natural resources and provide recreational enhancements while ensuring the public lands are conserved for the future.
With the benefit of funding from voter-approved Measure A (a quarter-cent retail transactions and use tax approved by voters in November 2012), Marin County Parks has a 2016-17 budget of $1.9 million for road and trail work.
Those interested in helping implement these five projects have an opportunity to volunteer. Anyone interested in donating time and effort may contact Volunteer Coordinator Greg Reza at 415-473-3778 or GReza@marincounty.org.