Santiago Oaks Trails Meeting

[g.c.]

Originally Posted by CPATCRASH

Maybe SHARE could reschedule.

Call and remind me brah, and I'll be there.

[Cowgirl]

I just spoke with the OC Parks and they said that the Santiago Oaks issue is not on the agenda...but that we can discuss any problems we have in the park during the open forum part of the meeting...apparently they will let us know of any progress that has been made since the last meeting....that should be interesting.

I also got the info for the people in charge of the rangers and was told to send them letters as well...so I am going to forward my letter I sent to Bill Campbell to these individuals as well.

Linda Mayer, Parks District Supervisor
linda.mayer@rdmd.ocgov.com

Her boss: Parker Hancock, Director of OC Parks
parker.hancock@rdmd.ocgov.com

Thanks for everyone's support on this issue...I feel like they are sweeping us under the mat not putting the issue on the agenda. Hoping we will all go away and that last meeting was just a fluke.

[doublewide]

Well, what happened at the meeting today Sherry? I'm waiting!

[Cowgirl]

The meeting went very well today...all of STR should be honored..when I arrived at the meeting they handed me the agenda and there was a copy of everyone's postings from STR (they did their research apparently)...so they addressed all...including the "lift access".

There were mnt. bikers (Sherry, Maxwell, Keith), equestrians and hikers at the meeting. I brought with me pictures showing all the issues with the trails as to widening, closures and re-routes.

Here is a run down of what was discussed.

1. No chair lifts.

2. Bobcat is being looked at to find out why it was
closed and they will let us know if and when it get's to
be re-opened. It was on the trail map and named so
that looks good for us. They need to look at the area
at the top of the trail to find out why it was closed as
well so we can access the trail legally. Seemed like
they are open to the idea of opening it again.

3. The contaminated dirt has been ordered by the
County to be removed. The dirt and debris was coming
from the property on the other side of the dam and
should have never been brought into that area of the
park..they are researching why that ever occured. If
dirt ever needs to be brought into the park it has to
be the same type of soil that currently exists.

4. No night riding at this time..something we can
approach with them in the future after all the trail
assessments are done.

5. Gate at the top! They didn't even know it was
there..it was apparently put in by the land owner who
owns the property where Robbers Roost is. They are
checking into whether or not we are allowed to go
thru it when it's locked. At this point the County is not
saying be can't go under the gate since there are no
signs posted. They think the owner may have put it in
to prevent vehicles from accessing their property.
The equestrians are unable to access that area as
well and have to go around and use Anaheim Hills
Trail.

6. RE-routing of Goat: Once again they were unaware of
the re-route and they are going to investigate the
sustainability of the re-route.and find out why it was done. No new trails are allowed to be made by a Ranger in the park without getting authorization and there was no upper authorization given. But if the route they sent it on was already existing then it might just stay the way it is. If a trail as two different routes that lead to the same location then the Rangers can close one. They are going to check with the Rangers and find out the reasons for the re-route and closure of the waterfall section. If the County deems it unsafe then for liability reason it will stay. Maxwell explained to them that it is more dangerous now then before because of the turn and the hole in the trail. They are going to go assess it and get back to us on it. That particular trail is also on the Trail Assessment Plan that will be finalize in the future.

7. We can't make the 3 b's any easier.

8. There has been a moretorium that no further work be done in the park by the Rangers. This was handed
down this week. There will be work being done by other agencies to place straw bales and errosion control product that you will see happening.

9. The MULE: The authorization came from Linda Mayer of the County to purchase the Mule to assist with Emergencies in the park and to help get heavy objects to areas in the park that the County truck can't access. Authorization was never given to the Rangers allowing them to use it for Patrol!..needless to say this was a big subject at the meeting. The County will be investigating its use.

10. Widening of trails to allow access for
Mule: Authorization was never given to widen trails
and the pictures given to them today will be
investigated. Once again they were enlightened to what has occurred in the park.

11. Fire Road put in at the bottom of the dam running next to river side creek trail: Not authorized as well to have been put in...it will be investigated by the County as to why it's there.

12. Rangers attitude towards users in the park:
This is going to be addressed with the Rangers by their Supervisors. Both Linda Mayer and Mark Denny said we can contact them and let them know of any problems we have with the rangers. The county supervisors reminded us that we as "users" of the park and it is "our" park and we should feel welcome to be riding out there.

13. Trails Assessment: The final trail assessment that was started back in August by Rodger Bell and Trails 4 All is going to be finished up in the beginning of Jan. At that time there will be a public meeting for the trail users to go over the assessment and get our opinions noted. The trails in Barham Ranch will be on this assessment and at that time we will find out what is proposed to be open, closed or re-routed.

Well, that pretty much covers it! I will be keeping in touch with both Linda Mayer and Mark Denny and they are going to update me to let me know about the issues they needed to check into with regards to Bobcat, Goat and other trails that the Rangers worked on.

I felt good leaving the meeting but only time will tell as to what happens. I hope it wasn't just a "feel good" meeting and that something comes out of it this time around. At least this time we were talking to the right people and we have go-to people.

FYI: I don't think we need to attend the Monday night meeting. Everything we were going to be discussing is already to the appropriate people....so enjoy your monday night and go ride!

[1x1clyde]

Thank you Cowgirl,Darin & Keith!

[jcampbell]

Awesome!

[Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by jcampbell

From the letter I wrote I mentioned the 1st B and the construction and grading of the road. Ie: no water drainage built in.

Was there any mention of that?

There is a seperate organization coming in to install water bars and straw bails to help redirect the water...your letter was not directly addressed but the issues regarding water drainage are being looked at because at this point all the water (right now) is going to head into Santiago Creek...the work is suppose to start around mid December.

[Schecky]

It's fantastic to have you guys presenting our issues.
You all rock. Thanks!

[maxwell]

Great report Sherry!

The one thing I tried to stress to them was that the original (historic) route for Goat (Waterfall) and the Bobcat trail are two of the most populare trails in O.C.
They have been there as long as I could remember, and have been maintained by us the trail user's.

Linda seemed open to the idea of getting the historic route put back into place,(the re-route should not have been done in the first place) but as Sherry said, we'll have to wait until the accessment's are done.

What was great to see, was the fact that ALL of the user groups were on the same page.
They all miss the tecnical aspect of those trails, and want to see them given back.

Well, I've got to get to work.

You all have a nice evening.

P.S.

Please remember to give the parks a couple of days off after the rains.

[Chewyeti]

rock on guys!

glad someone has taken the time to protect our interests and love of a spot to ride.

Thanks!

[dutch]

Cowgirl: great report on the situation at the oaks. Although I had previously said that i would like to attend, I have a ton of schoolwork that prevented me. Your feedback and info was invaluable. I learned more about santiago oaks through your post than I had ever known before.

Maxwell, good follow up, I'm sure that everyone appreciates your input/feedback and the suggestions for the preservation of the original waterfall route. plus I hope that your suggestion for leaving the trails free from biking for a bit due to the rain are pretty pertinent right now. I love rainy weather, but hate what it does to OC trails. Plus it's an excuse for me to sleep in in the mornings.

[Waldo]

This is awesome - Thanks to everyone who is representing us so well!

[LoisMustDie]

Originally Posted by Cowgirl

(they did their research apparently)...so they addressed all...including the "lift access".

Great report and Thank you so much!

Did they address why they were "sanitizing" the trails - filling in holes, etc?

[ODB]

HUGE thanks to Cowgirl et al. for representing us so well and sharing the info.