The East Bay Regional Park District Public Advisory Committee (PAC) received a presentation on Monday June 27th from Asst. General Manager of Operations Jim O’Connor regarding proposed pilots at Briones regarding trail conflict, resource protection, and optimizing trail user experience. A multi-discipline team from within the park district has been working developing this pilot program. The plans for the pilots are not finalized but there is a significant structure proposed and staff was seeking input from the PAC as they work toward implementation. The meeting is available on YouTube at the link below. Slides have not been posted yet on the park district website. Listen to or watch the video if this topic is of interest to you (link is cued to the start of the conversation).
Some of the details aren’t exactly clear but you’ll get a feel.
The proposed pilot includes:
- It applies to a specified area in the eastern portion of Briones from the Hank n Frank zone just north of the Alhambra Creek Trail (road) south to Sunrise trail
- Even / odd day weekend access for mtb / horses to several unsanctioned trails
- Some bike access will be bike only, directional downhill (purple on map)
- Some access will be bike/hike during bike days (blue on map)
- Bike bells required (Jim O’Connor had a positive experience while hiking rogue trails doing recon)
- Trail restoration is planned for some trails (pink/fuschia on map)
- See map below for the best information on the pilot zone and actions on specific trails.
- Additional signage needed to communicate the pilots
- Pass through restrictors of some sort at congestion points. Locations were not discussed but this is likely where trails merge
- Outreach, education, data collection, and enforcement will be significant elements
- Data collection to include field surveys on experiences, trail counters, field counts, trail cameras
- Enforcement of pilot area restrictions
- Dedicated staff will be applied for implementation, management, and data collection during the trial
- November 2022 to November 2023 timing. A longer time frame would be preferred.
- Emphasized a need to try some things and learn. The status quo is not working and inaction does not improve the situation.
- Details on stewardship/environmental surveys so it’s unclear how much has been done to date
- Success criteria were not specifically defined
- Trail user engagement and participation is CRITICAL to success
It’s still a work in progress and the information on plans has changed over the months indicating they have been considering feedback that has been provided. It’s likely there will be some changes from what was presented.
These pilots are temporary and aimed at learning if these trail management practices can be used to improve resource protection, trail user experiences, and reduce trail conflict. There are still questions to be asked and answered but this is a significant step by the park district to try some things that have not been tried in EBRPD. Details on the path forward were not discussed.
Stay tuned for more information as this effort continues!
