Trail Loss In Auburn, CA

[guest@endurance.net]

Sarah Konst konst@oro.net
As most of you know, the Coffer Dam area trails near the TEVIS finish line
in Auburn, California are going to be closed when they close the diversion
tunnel starting as early as March of 2002. We can keep them from being
permanently closed if we ACT NOW.

PLEASE do the following;

1. PRINT the issues below, a portion of them, or your own comments
2. INCLUDE your name, mailing address, phone number & organization(if
any), and signature
3. MAIL your letter(s) before the end of October to;

   American River Pump Station Project
   Draft EIS/EIR Comments
   Surface Water Resources, Inc.
   2031 Howe Avenue
   Sacramento, CA 95825

4. SEND this information to everyone you can think of
5. PRINT out copies for others to sign and send
6. Make your opinion as public as possible


OVERVIEW   At a public hearing last week PCWA claimed that the
Auburn-to-Cool trail loss is a significant but unavoidable impact of the
river restoration and pump station project. This is simply not true as
there is a solution – PCWA needs to include the construction of a bridge
in their plan. They also need to leave a dirt trail along side the roads
that they are paving so those trails aren’t lost as well.

PERMANENT TRAIL LOSS   The Coffer Dam site is one of the few places where
several trails merge and provide access to other trail systems (the
Western States trail in Auburn, the Olmstead trail in Cool, and the Maidu
area trails).  Most people feel that if the PCWA river project doesn’t
include a bridge in their plan now that it will never happen and we will
lose the Coffer Dam area trails, three of our best training hills, and a
major trail system connection FOREVER.

SAFETY ISSUES   Several thousand hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, equestrians,
mountain bikers, and runners use these trails. If the Auburn-to-Cool trail
is closed, the treacherous canyon trail to ‘no-hands’ bridge(Western
States Trail) will become overcrowded - presenting a seriously dangerous
situation. This trail was not designed to handle the kind of traffic that
the Coffer Dam trails can. The trails are narrow and the drop-offs are
steep, rocky, and several hundred feet high. People and horses will be at
a much greater risk for potentially deadly accidents involving collisions
and falls.

TRAINING HILL LOSS   The Auburn-to-Cool trail loss is not just a trail,
but also a merging of 3 canyon hills where athletes have been training for
years. Runners and equestrians will no longer have these hills for
training for the world famous 100 mile Western States run, the 100 mile
Tevis endurance race, or other events. Auburn is proud to host the finish
lines of both of these and other prestigious races. How will people feel
from other states and countries when they arrive prior to these events to
acclimatize and train on these trails??

MOUNTAIN BIKE ACCESS   Mountain biking access to the American River Canyon
below Auburn is already limited. In fact, the Auburn-to-Cool trail is the
only access they have to the trails in Cool from Auburn. It is not fair to
take their only access route away from them. The canyon represents many
user groups that include water use AND land use. The PCWA project needs to
support all canyon user groups and recognize the value of keeping the
canyon access available to everyone.

PATROL ISSUE   Currently a volunteer mounted unit patrols the Coffer Dam
area. Equestrians will no longer have access to the area as the PCWA plan
includes paved roads on the Auburn side and piled river rock from the
excavation on the Cool side. Who is willing to take on the expense and
responsibility of patrolling this area when it becomes not so horse
friendly??

SUMMARY   Most people want to share in the joy and celebration of opening
the river back to its natural course. We are asking PCWA to do the right
thing and not take away the use of precious and beautiful canyon trails
from our community. This can be achieved by building a bridge – a small
price to pay when compared to the overall $31 million project budget. A
small price to pay compared to the permanent loss of trails that thousands
of people have been using for years.