This was forwarded to me and I'm passing it on to
those whom I know might be interested. For AERC list and RideCamp, this is on
the West Coast. I've only had a chance to camp here one, but it is one of the
loveliest spots I've ever been to.
Jackie Flody
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Here is the scoop on the Stewart
Ranch Horse Camp issue, directly from Colin Smith, head park ranger.
Thanks to Pam Schwartz of Equestrian Trail Advocates and Gayle Jackson of San
Ramon Valley Horsemen, for tracking down the whole story for
us.
The NPS contract
with the Stewarts has expired. The NPS is required to put the contract up
for bid, and in the next few weeks they will select a bidder. Only then
will they start any negotiations on the contract as to which of the changes they
are willing to negotiate.
The
Stewarts have run the camp for 42 years, but unfortunately, after seeing the new
stringent conditions that NPS is suggesting, Amanda may not want to bid on it
any longer.
Public
input will be reviewed so we have to get involved and be sure they get enough of
the right kind of public input. It needs to be sensible, logical, and
reasonable, and we must have the right reasons if we want to be listened
to.
They would prefer one letter speaking for a
group, so we need to get each CLUB to write a letter stating how many members
they represent, and if the club camps there, please mention that. Other
points to mention:
1. High
ties should not be removed, they are safer, better than only allowing hitching
posts. They re probably better for the environment too, since horses
sometimes dig around the posts, but usually don t with high ties because they
have a little more freedom of movement, they aren t restricted as
much.
2. They
say they must move the campsites 100 feet away from creeks, but the area they
are suggesting is dangerously near the highway, there s no shade, it is far away
from bathrooms. Request that it at least be fenced for safety. The
camp is closed in the wintertime, the only time there would be a problem.
And the Stewarts have not had any problems with the creeks in the entire time
they've been concessionaires at the camp.
3. NPS is suggesting a limit of 50,
when it is now 125. Suggest 100 as a compromise reduction.
4. They want a limit of only four
nights per person, but people come from long distances, from all over the state,
to camp there because it s the only horse camp available in the area.
Right now the limit is two weeks.
Although
they will pay more attention to a letter from a club, we need to make as much of
an impact as we can, so any more letters we can get the better. And
old-fashioned, snail mail letters do the most good. We need to reach the
Special Park Uses Office which administers the concession permit for the
camp. Here s the contact information. Write to:
Point Reyes National
Seashore ATTN:
Kevin McKay cc: Kevin_McKay@xxxxxxx 1 Bear Valley Road Point Reyes Station, CA
94956
