JAN. 28 - TRAVEL MANAGEMENT FOR BERRYESSA-SNOW MOUNTAIN NATIONAL MONUMENT

 

National Monument Sign on West Portion of Stonyford OHV Area

Mendocino National Forest

On March 19, 2016, a stakeholder collaborative gathered at the BLM’s Cowboy Camp to participate in the official dedication ceremony for the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.  Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell was joined by Members of Congress, local elected officials, state dignitaries, Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, BLM National Director Neil Kornze, other FS/BLM officials, and diverse user groups that represented hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers, adventure riders, overlanders, and OHV enthusiasts.

Interior Secretary, Sally Jewell, on OHV Tour of Monument

What made the event unique is that OHV recreation was featured as a key partner in development of the plan to bring additional resources to enhance both conservation efforts and existing/ future non-motorized and motorized recreational opportunities within the Monument boundary.

 

Map of National Monument

LINK TO BERRYESSA SNOW MOUNTAIN NATIONAL MONUMENT

https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/california/berryessa-snow-mountain-national-monument

 

As an important part of the BLM’s commitment to improve existing and future recreation opportunities, the agency issued a news release on January 15, 2021 that invites the public to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument’s BLM Trails and Travel Management Workshop on January 28, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. This virtual workshop will provide an overview of the BLM travel management process, which is scheduled to begin later in 2021, and invite participants to provide comment.

 

REGISTER HERE FOR WORKSHOP ON JANUARY 28, 2021 – 5:30 to 8:00 pm

https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-hold-berryessa-snow-mountain-national-monument-public-workshop

 

Many of the OHV organizations that worked with conservation groups on development of the national monument understand that federal lands in or adjacent to the national monument are home to a number of destination and dispersed high quality OHV trail recreation opportunities that exist on designated roads, trails, and areas.

Monument Sign at Entrance to Knoxville OHV Area

BLM Ukiah Field Office

However, there are some areas in the Walker Ridge/Indian Valley Reservoir part of the monument that do not have a designated route network.  Your participation in the travel planning process will help identify trails that are important and those that may be causing resource damage or trespass onto private property.

 

If you use or want to use this area for motorized or non-motorized recreation, be sure and sign up to be part of this travel planning effort.  It will also be good practice for other federal planning efforts that are being developed.

 

Non-Motorized Trails Need Love Too

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

A recent trip to the Pacific Northwest to hike and observe non-motorized travel management prescriptions reminded QWR that off-route travel including shortcuts on trails with switchbacks can present land managers with significant challenges.

Non-motorized travel management becomes even more acute at popular federally designated sites such as National Scenic Areas and National Monuments.  Often these sites are visited by thousands of domestic and international tourists each day. 

Such intensive use can place a stress on agency resources and staff in maintaining visitor services such as day use areas, interpretive centers, and trails.

QWR believes that signs are the most effective (and often the only management tool the public sees) method by which a land agency communicates its commitment to the public and the resource.  And, the quality of an agency’s signing program is directly proportional to the level of user enjoyment, public compliance with regulations, and success of the unit’s mission, vision, and values.

Shortcut Trail - Larch Mountain Trail

Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area

Last week, QWR had the privilege to hike the Larch Mountain Trail up to Multnomah Falls at the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and tour various trails at the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument appears to have a modern signing program that uses a combination of more traditional travel management signs with the addition of more universal or “picture” signs to convey where the public should travel.

Effective "Picture" Travel Management Sign

Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Evidence of illegal cross-country non-motorized travel at the Monument was virtually non-existent which pays tribute to the unit’s management strategy and team.

Traditional Travel Management Sign

Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

The Larch Mountain Trail up to Multnomah Falls was in overall good condition but it appeared that additional measures might be needed to address a number of non-legal shortcuts across some of the 11 switchbacks on the 1.25 miles of paved trail up to the falls.

Effective Sign with Trail Delineator - Larch Mountain Trail

Since this trail literally gets thousands of hikers from various parts of the world each day, QWR believes the unit should consider modernizing its signing program by integrating some “picture” signs that convey the importance of users staying on the paved route.

A "Picture" Shortcut Sign

Mendocino National Forest

This is particularly important since this area of the country has a long wet season where off-route travel can have significant impacts when the soil moisture content is elevated.

QWR has suggested the agency also enhance their signing program by increasing the number of trail delineators (e.g. spilt rail fences, etc.) and consider using woody debris to help camouflage old ghost trails or shortcuts.

The purpose of this article is to highlight the import role that both the motorized and non-motorized recreation community has in helping support sustainable travel management practices on public lands. 

And, those high use areas require more intensive travel management strategies and prescriptions.