Aliso RMP

[genusmtbkr5]

There seems to be a lot of questions concerning which trails at Aliso & Wood Canyon park are open, closed or going to be open and when. Here is some info on what is on the current plan. If you feel this is unfair or possibly change the outcome, come out to some meetings like the one they had at Santaigo Oaks and make a difference.

From the RMP (Resource Management Plan):

Chapter 7: Public Access and Recreation
AWCWP will continue to draw visitors from throughout Southern California. Public access
must be secondary to the primary goal to protect and enhance the natural and cultural
resources. Consistent with this purpose, the County will improve the current network of
authorized trails, evaluate the potential for new trail routes, and implement management
actions to minimize road and trail impacts to the natural and cultural resources of the site.

Recommendations for new trails respond to recognized destinations, prominent view
locations and desirable off-site destinations. The existing trail network does not always
provide sufficient opportunities for loop trails. In response, recommendations to formalize
existing unauthorized trails include:

1. Reroute Corridor Trail.
2. Aliso Beach Park Class 1 Bikeway.
3. Car Wreck.
4. Birthday Trail (aka Nestall).
5. East Ridge Trail (Five Oaks Link).
6. Aliso Creek (East).
7. Aliso Summit Trail to Aliso Creek East.
8. Esslinger Trail.

The RMP recommends that most unauthorized trails be closed and actively restored to
native habitat. To assure that impacts are lessened and a balance exists between restored
habitat (closed trails) and new recreation (re-opening existing unauthorized trails) the RMP
recommends that none of the unauthorized trails slated to be authorized (opened) can be
opened until habitat restoration is successfully initiated for the unauthorized trails within that
management zone or area. Unauthorized trails to be restored to native habitat include:

1. Ibis
2. Bong Drop
3. Dog Park
4. Smoothies
5. Alpine
6. Schoolyard
7. Red Rider
8. No Way Out
9. JT’s

AWCWP needs a clear sense of entry such that visitors immediately recognize that they
have entered a County Wilderness Park. At the public meetings, people expressed a need
to better define the entries to the park and to create an overall identity for the park: visitors
should know that they are in a special place – possibly with an entry monument(s).
Communication of this identity begins with creating a clear hierarchy of entries with the
design for each entry and continues in evaluating the content of displays, handouts and
programs.

To read the entire plan go here:

Draft RMP

Other links:

http://www.ocparks.com/default.asp
http://www.ocparks.com/wildernessparks/default.asp
http://www.ocparks.com/regionalparks/default.asp

[JamR]

I believe most of the preliminary public meetings have already been held and the public went through the commenting period, which was the basis of the current draft map for the proposed trails to be added and the ones to be closed permanently and restored.

The current item that was being performed was the hydrology survey and report.

People who are interested in this park however, should take the time to read the Draft RRMP so they can get familiar with the proposed trail system.

Knowledge is always a good thing!

[hoovermd]

Thanks Gene!

The key statement here is:

"the RMP recommends that none of the unauthorized trails slated to be authorized (opened) can be
opened until habitat restoration is successfully initiated for the unauthorized trails within that
management zone or area"

This means that the riding of these illegal trails will delay the opening of the others.

[ArrrKelly]

I'm suprised "Do Not Enter" is off the list. I was hoping for clarification.