RE: American River Ride

["Steph Teeter" <steph@endurance.net>]

Ridecampers - I hope you all realize what an incredible thing
this post is. Issues aside - this is *communication* ! A government
official has used this forum to talk to us and explain the
situation from the gov't's perspective. And I'm sure this person
and/or his staff has read the opinions of the riders that
attended the ride. I'm still constantly amazed by the power -
and depth - of the internet.

Steph

-----Original Message-----
From: guest@endurance.net [mailto:guest@endurance.net]
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2000 5:20 PM
To: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: RC: American River Ride


Robert Williamson rwill@parks.ca.gov
I am writing this message in response to information that is being
circulated about the American River Ride, held this last weekend.  For many
years California State Parks has had regulations governing the actions of
people who camp overnight.  One of the regulations restricts camping to
areas that are designated for that purpose, specifically, campgrounds.  The
California Code of Regulations allows certain restricted one-night camping
in some day use areas, subject to restrictions placed by the Department.
One of those restrictions is that such camping must be in a self-contained
vehicle.

Some of you have said that the intent is to eliminate equestrian events.
There is no truth to that feeling.  We have spent countless years fighting
major battles to preserve riding opportunity in this area and to protect the
safety of equestrians who come to our park.  I started riding horses when I
was five years old and still ride whenever I can.  It is a sport that is
also enjoyed by many other members of our staff.  There are options that can
be planned, but those options must be presented in a timely manner, and with
due consideration to a long-term plan that is in the best interests of all
concerned.  Those options can not be done at the last minute, since the
participants must be given adequate time to plan.  We can not force someone
to discuss alternatives that would be workable, if they continually refuse
to talk.

Since 1995 we have been working with the organizers of the American River
Ride to get them to comply with department policy on this subject.  We have
had no cooperation from the organizers of this event, despite repeated
requests.  Our requests started out as friendly, but have escalated to the
point where the very future of the event is in jeopardy.  The event
organizers were told before last year's event that they must address this
issue or enforcement action would take place.  They, once again, ignored our
concerns.  The organizers were told well before this year's event that
another repetition would result in enforcement action being taken against
those people that were in violation of the requirements.  Again, there was
no attempt to inform the participants or to make alternative arrangements.
If the officers who contacted the participants seemed overzealous in their
actions I am certain that it was due, in part, to having dealt with this
issue continually over the past !
six years.

Our department's intent is not to discriminate against those people who
chose to not drive recreational vehicles, but to try to offer opportunities
for quality recreational experiences, and balance that with our mandate to
preserve its natural resources.  When an event organizer continually refuses
to take appropriate steps to follow permit conditions then we are left with
no alternative.  The bottom line is that event organizers must work with the
department staff to plan event.  Refusing to make appropriate plans results
in anger and frustration for both the participants and the park staff.  This
anger should be directed where it belongs, with the event organizers.

When planning future events it is extremely important that the event
organizers work closely with the park staff, rather than trying to force an
idea without discussion.  They would find that we are surprisingly easy to
work with and would be, no doubt, pleased with the outcome, as would the
event participants.

Robert Williamson
Supervising Ranger
American River District


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