Newsletter Winter 2006
President's Message
2005 saw some significant steps forward both for the Forest and for the Advocates. The major event this past year was the settlement of the law suit against the General Plan. Another significant event was the launching of the Advocates web site. The installation of new information panels at the kiosk area moved closer to completion and our trail work activities continued to keep the park trails accessible for all the park visitors. On the down side, the Advocates
lost one of our original supporters when Bill Tefertiller passed away in October.
In March, State Parks agreed to a settlement in the law suit brought against the Nisene Marks General Plan by the Citizens for the Preservation of Nisene Marks State Park. The law suit sought to have bike riding banned from the property donated to State Parks by the Marks family (roughly 90% of the park). Under the terms of the settlement, bike riding is not allowed on all trails above the steel bridge. However, the settlement does allow bike riding on the fire road. This essentially maintains the status quo for bike riding in the park. By reaching this agreement, State Parks can now move forward to implement the improvements to the park outlined in the General Plan. The first step in that process will be the development of a comprehensive trail plan. The settlement, however, prohibits the inclusion of any multi-use trails above the steel bridge in the trail plan.
Also in March, the Advocates launched our own web site, www.advocatesfnm.org. The site provides the opportunity to get information about the Advocates, the park, and local issues affecting the park. Visitors can get information about joining the Advocates and/or volunteering for workdays. The current as well as previous Advocates newsletters are posted. The site includes special features such as a photo gallery of the park by Buzz Gorsky, historical photos from the timber industry, and a link to Elisa Webb’s “Walk in the Forest” –a virtual tour of the Old Growth Loop.
Progress was made in our efforts to install permanent information panels in the kiosk area. When installed, the panels will provide visitors information on points of interest in the park and a trail guide showing the best trail routes to reach these points. In May, the Advocates Board of Directors authorized $7,000 to fund the panels. Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is also providing funding to update their trail map of the park which will be used in the display. The panels are currently is the initial design stage which should be completed in the next few weeks. State Parks Interpretive Ranger Karma Graham, who was heading up the project, has moved on to another position in southern California. We will be working with her replacement, Linda Hitchcock, to get the project completed as soon as possible.
Other ongoing issues affecting the park:
Trail Plan – Now that the path has been cleared for the implementation of the General Plan, the first step in that process will be the development of a comprehensive trail plan.
Status: We expect to hear from State Parks in the near future about the status of the trail plan and how the Advocates can contribute to the project.
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Aptos Village Plan – The plan was first outlined in a series of community meetings in 2003 and envisioned expanded commercial development as well as a more prominent entrance to the Forest of Nisene Marks. At issue is the impact on the parking area across from Aptos County Park which is currently used by many of the park’s visitors, particularly runners and bikers.
Status: Negotiations are still under way among the various property owners to arrange financing for infrastructure improvements required by the plan. Once completed, a draft master plan would then be made available for both community and environmental review before going to the County Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors for final approval.
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Koch property – The property, 142 acres of undeveloped meadow, is located behind Cabrillo Collage and has been used for years as an access point to Nisene Marks via the Vienna Woods trail and the Scout trail above the water tower. The current owner of the property plans on building several large homes starting with a personal residence on the hill near the water tower. The group Nisene2Sea (www.nisene2sea.org) has been working to preserve the property and find funding to purchase the property for eventual donation to State Parks.
Status: Last spring the developer was denied a permit to build the residence on the hill. He has since modified the building plan and is re-submitting it to the County Planning Commission for approval.
Grant for permanent bridge to “Marcel’s Forest” – The local State Parks sector, with help from the Advocates, submitted a proposal to State Parks for a grant to build a permanent, ADA accessible bridge across Aptos Creek to the Marcel’s Forest picnic area. The bridge would replace the need to install each spring the seasonal bridges.
Status: The grant was rejected in 2003 but re-submitted in 2004. Barbi Barry, Sector Maintenance Supervisor, has been monitoring the progress of the grant application and hopes to have a positive response in the near future.
I’d like to say a special thanks to our intrepid group of trail workers led by Chris Foster and Greg Weaver. Working with our partner, Trailworkers.com (www.trailworkers.com), Chris and Greg put together a half-dozen work days last year to repair storm damage, re-route trails and complete the installation/de-installation of the seasonal bridges across Aptos Creek. Barbi Barry also had a YCC crew repair damage on the Vienna Wood trail caused by some local bike riders creating jumps. Other than a major slide that has closed the Aptos Creek trail, Chris and Greg report that the trails are in generally good shape.
Finally, another special thanks to Nedra Martinez who has been the sector supervising ranger since 2002. Nedra is moving on to another position in southern California. We look forward working with her replacement who should be named in the next few weeks.
-Paul Ticknor