Newsletter Fall 2001

President's Message

This has been one of the Advocates most productive years, thanks to the hard work of many volunteers and the strong financial support from our members. We’ve worked hard to support and augment the excellent work of Larry Tierney and his maintenance staff. As a result, conditions in the park are better than ever and the quality of the park experience for visitors continues to be enhanced. We intend to carry this momentum into next year, with many more improvements and interpretive projects on tap.

As many of you know, the original epicenter interpretive panel was stolen several years ago. Many visitors still come to the park because of its fame as the site of the Loma Prieta earthquake epicenter. We’ve created a new, more informative panel that uses text and diagrams to tell story of the dramatic rupture of the San Andreas fault. Now, as park users head up the Aptos Creek trail toward the epicenter area, they will have an understanding of the powerful forces that have shaped the landscape of the park.

Terrace Trail is one of the most beautiful (and least traveled) trails in the park. It parallels Aptos Creek on the west side, from Marcel’s Forest to the stream crossing below George’s Picnic Area. Late last winter, a redwood family circle crashed down, taking numerous distant relatives with it and burying a section of trail. In September, we organized a joint workday with the Mountain Bikes of Santa Cruz (MBOSC) and had 19 volunteers working on the trail! We put in a culvert, cleared trees and debris, and put in water bars. Jason then came back and cleared the largest redwoods, and the trail is in great shape.

Probably by the time you get this newsletter, we will have had a busy workday on December 3. As of the middle of November, 13 volunteers have signed up. Planned projects include: removal of the seasonal bridge to Marcel’s Forest, placing the Van Eck memorial bench on Hawk Ridge, and installation of culverts on Terrace and Loma Prieta Grade trail.

Next year should be a banner year as well. We plan to install one or two more seasonal bridges, continue to work on Loma Prieta Grade drainage problems, develop an interpretive panel for Hoffman’s historic site, remain very active in the ongoing General Planning process, and more! And speaking of banners, how do you like our new Advocates masthead?

These are exciting times for the park! With the General Plan being created next year, we have an opportunity to help shape the future of the park. Your officers and Board of Directors are taking an active role in this process. We have developed a “wish list” of 35 things we’d like to see incorporated into the plan, are actively discussing trail use and development issues, and are gathering information on things ranging from having drinking water near Sand Point to a building a visitor center.

As part of this process, at our last Board meeting we hiked Mangels Ranch in an effort to become very well informed on trail use issues. We heard presentations from experts in trail building and maintenance, resource ecologists and representatives of various park user groups. We hope to find a way to make a recommendation to the General Plan consultant that will end or at least mitigate user-group wars. We are working on a trail plan recommendation that will first and foremost protect the park, and then allow for short, medium and long experiences for all user groups.

On another note, I’d like to encourage you to visit the Web site Trailworkers.com (www.trailworkers.com). This site facilitates volunteer trail work projects in Wilder Ranch, and we are working with them to include Nisene Marks. This will be a big help in organizing projects and lining up volunteers.

As you can see in Sandy Lydon’s adjacent article about Jerry Waggoner, his achievements in Nisene Marks deserve our thanks and recognition. No one knows more or cares more about Nisene Marks. To recognize and thank Jerry for his 17 years of service as the ranger for Nisene Marks, the Board of Directors has elected Jerry to the newly created position of “Honorary Director”.

I want to close by thanking all the volunteers who made this year so successful. I’d love to name them all – but it would take up the whole page! I look forward to spending time with all of you again next year! I also want to thank State Park rangers and maintenance staff for all their hard work in Nisene Marks.

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