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Dedicated to conservation and multiple use of public lands for recreation opportunities. Edited by: John Stewart |
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The Rubicon - to Gate or Not to Gate
The rumors began over a month ago: Complaints regarding the McKinney-Rubicon Springs Road (Rubicon Road) were filed with the Regional Water Quality Control Board; Lahontan Region referencing a Notice of Violation of Cease and Desist Order 6-94-20 that was issued to Placer County on December 1, 2000. (Cease and Desist Order 6-94-20 was issued against Placer County for discharging and threatening to discharge wastes from the Rubicon Road to McKinney Creek.) The complaints were dated April 13, 2000 and August 23, 2000 and a Regional Board provided a response letter in May 8, 2000. On May 11, 2000, staff from the US Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, informed Regional Water Quality Control Board staff of stream flows running down sections of the Rubicon Road causing erosion of the road shoulders. Regional Water Quality Control Board also received calls from a reporter (Mary Thompson) at the Tahoe Daily Tribune and a member of the California Wilderness Coalition notifying of damage to the Rubicon Road and surrounding areas from off-highway vehicle (OHV) use.
These events led to a meeting on Monday, March 26, 2001 at Placer County's Planning Commission Hearing Room in Auburn, CA. A panel of six county representatives, including the acting Public Works Director, two representatives from the USFS, one representative from California State Parks OHV Division and the Executive Director of the Regional Water Quality Control Board addressed the issue to a standing room only audience. Placer County and the Regional Water Quality Control Board provided informative presentations. The tenor was one of cooperation and agreement between the two parties. Placer County accepted responsibility for the maintenance and the Regional Water Quality Control Board agreed to allow the the county until the end of the summer to develop a plan. Placer County clearly stated it's intention is to keep the road open WITH OUT gates or seasonal closures.
The OHV community provided significant public input: very positive, wanting to help, offering excellent ideas. Several professionals in engineering and planing extended offers to help. The passion and importance poured out without threat or embarrassment.
In 1993, Cal4Wheel was approached by the Regional Water Quality Control Board to put pressure on Placer County to do maintenance on this route. Cal4Wheel made the offer to do the maintanance as an Adopt-a-Trail project. The Regional Water Quality Control Board refused on the grounds that volunteers where not a bondable contractor. In 1997, Cal4Wheel applied for and received a National Recreational Trails Act (NRTA) or "Symms" grant to do some upgrades to the flood plain at the eastern end of the bridge. Cal4Wheel asked again to use volunteers and again where told no. When asked about ongoing maintenance as an Adopt-a-Trail, the Regional Water Quality Control Board staff again refused because a permit and they would advise Placer not to use volunteers. At the Monday meeting, faced by a crowd of shovel toting OHVers, the tone was much different. The Regional Water Quality Control Board and Placer County clearly stated they will use the volunteer help.
When reminded of the history, Mr. Singer, Executive Director of the Regional Water Quality Control Board, agreed his staff was wrong and he would work out the details of a volunteer agreement. This represents a HUGE victory for teh recreational users of the Rubicon Road.
Another meeting between the agencies scheduled for April. This will be a update and background meeting only. With all that went into the public record at the Auburn meeting, it would be hard to make a big shift in policy.
Estimated of over 150 people were on hand, representing many different groups and clubs. An organization call has been made to get the representatives of these groups in one room. It was proposed that Cal4Wheel host a facilitated round table to set rules and direction with no preconceived outcome other than a better Rubicon Road. This call has not been vetoed nor has an alternative been proposed.
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