Lots of progress over past 6 months

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In March, Park District staff gave an update to the Board on the “WIldcat Regional Park Bike Trail Project”.  In the meeting materials here and video here (starting timestamp 1:42) staff showed the identified trail corridor, which provides access for local youth mountain biking programs with minimal impact to sensitive plant and animal communities.  Importantly, Brian Holt, Chief of Trails, Planning, and GIS, stated that there are no internal planning hurdles since the Wildcat Canyon Regional Park Land Use Plan specifically identifies mountain biking as an appropriate use.


Also in March,a preliminary design of the Wildcat flow trail (WFT) was completed by Pointe Strategies (a Colorado firm specializing in design of mountain bike trails).  The trail, shown in the map below, is about 2 miles long and drops 700 feet (both the distance and the drop are roughly 3x that of  the Endor Flow at Tamarancho).   The flowy part of the trail is broken into three sections surrounded by a fence to protect it from the cows. A rider would enter and exit these fenced areas via narrow cattle guards like the ones found at Crockett Hills.  Between the fenced sections  the land has a much milder slope and is proposed to have technical features that will be hardscaped to protect them from the cattle.  These unfenced areas are needed to allow for the passage of the cows but the areas can also provide a fun break involving different skills than the flowy trail.


In May, EBRPD initiated the next legally required step - a CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) initial study which will determine the appropriate level of CEQA analysis.   This first phase should be completed in the next few weeks.  Expect an update soon.


Next steps under CEQA will include public engagement and outreach, with at least one public meeting for stakeholders to ask questions and express support or concerns.  It will be important for WFT supporters to turn out in large numbers at these meetings.  We'll give you plenty of notice so you can attend and do your part to help the WFT.  The CEQA analysis may take up to a year, depending on the findings of the initial study.  Once complete, with any needed environmental mitigations identified, the next step is for  the Board to adopt the CEQA findings and approve the project to proceed to final design and  construction.  After watching many hours of Board discussions it is my perception that WFT is supported in principle by a majority of the Board but of course the final vote could be influenced by the level of public support.  This will be another important opportunity for our community to be vocal..  

 

Assuming the Board does approve WFT, construction could still be delayed by a lawsuit.  Several groups including the Sierra Club's East Bay Public Lands Committee, chaired by Norman La Force have submitted letters opposing the WFT. 


All of this will likely play out next year so stay tuned for the excitement!  If everything goes well we could be riding WFT by the end of 2025!  

Cort Cooper



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