8/2/2019

To the BLM Central Coast Field Office,

I am writing today to give comments on public access at Cotoni-Coast Dairies (CCD) on behalf of Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBOSC), we are a non-profit trail stewardship organization local to Santa Cruz County. We represent 2700 members and have an active volunteer base of nearly 1000. First off I want to thank BLM staff for the manner in which you have approached this planning effort. It gives me great comfort to see public servants moving through a contentious planning process with such respect and objectivity. You have provided a very comfortable and safe forum for a wide ranging diversity of the public to give feedback and be heard. Thank you.

Santa Cruz County has nearly 220 miles of official singletrack trails. Of those only 40 miles are open to mountain bikes. has emerged as a popular mainstream sport, and Santa Cruz is world renowned as a destination. This is a hub for the bike industry with such notable brands as , Ibis Cycles, , Bell, and Fox calling the county home. This has put a lot of pressure on the few miles of legally accessible mountain bike trails. Our local land managers here in the county have been slow to respond to the demand for mountain bike access which has led to issues around unofficial trail use and user conflict. We have a great opportunity at CCD to turn this trend around and effectively manage mountain biking through intelligent trail planning, including mountain bike oriented and specific trails, which the BLM is a leader on in other regions.

In regards to public access at CCD, what a great opportunity the BLM has to both steward natural and cultural resources and to provide for world class public access to a striking piece of land. We at MBOSC have developed a list of our thoughts on some management and planning elements that might be incorporated into your management plan to create a property that both the BLM and the public can be proud of.

1. CCD is a large enough property to support the conservation of cultural, and ecological resources while still providing a diverse and substantial trail network to provide for public enjoyment of the property. 2. Trail access should be provided for a diversity of trail users including walkers, hikers, runners, disabled users, mountain bikers, and equestrians.

Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Our federal employer identification numbers is 77-0457425.

3. Trail planning, construction and maintenance should place a high value on minimizing disturbance to sensitive cultural, biological, and hydrological resources consistent with NEPA (National Environmental Protection Act) and BLM Manuals and Handbooks/policies and practices. 4. Trails should include interpretive elements to educate the public on natural history and management of the property. 5. The trail network should be designed and constructed using today’s best practices including: a. Use of sustainable techniques to minimize erosion b. Design features to minimize user conflict c. Utilization of user specific trails (hike/horse and bike) as well as multi-use trails where appropriate to provide for diversity of user experiences i. We have zero mountain bike specific trails here in Santa Cruz county, as the BLM has successfully implemented this type of trail throughout the nation incorporating them into CCD would be a great way to introduce this useful trail management tool to our region. d. Use of design and construction methods defined in BLM’s Guidelines For a Quality Trail Use Experience which is the ​ definitive guide for managing mountain bike use on public lands. e. Emphasize user experience in trail design and construction. f. Provide a variety of length and difficulty options for all trail users. 6. Trail connectivity to other parks and regional trails (existing and planned) should be a priority for trail network design including connections to: a. San Vicente Redwoods b. Rail Trail/California Coastal Trail c. Wilder Ranch State Park 7. Trail and staging area layout should minimize privacy, trespass, and safety impacts to property neighbors including Swanton and Davenport. a. Partnering with the Trust for Public Land and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County to develop access points adjacent to BLM property may be a great option for minimizing impacts to neighbors.

Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Our federal employer identification numbers is 77-0457425.

8. The BLM should partner with local organizations to provide resources for trail planning, construction, maintenance and management. These organizations include The Santa Cruz County Horsemens Association, Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz, the Sierra Club, theLand Trust of Santa Cruz County, among others. 9. A volunteer backcountry patrol (to include hikers, bikers, and equestrians) should be established to augment BLM ability to provide public safety and protect sensitive resources. State Parks has successfully implemented a similar program in its nearby parks. The organizations mentioned above would likely want to support creation of this program. 10. The BLM should charge for parking to create a sustainable funding source for management of the property. Parking lots should be large enough to prevent overflow parking on local roads. 11. An annual parking pass should be available. 12. Parking facilities should include a. Bathrooms b. Trash receptacles c. Regular bathroom and trash service d. Horse trailer parking with adequate space for equestrian staging e. Seating areas/shade structures f. Signage i. Interpretive ii. Wayfinding 1. Including suggested routes for various trail users 2. Difficulty/distance information iii. Rules and Regulations

Please consider these recommendations as you prepare your plan.

Respectfully,

Matt De Young Executive Director Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz

Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Our federal employer identification numbers is 77-0457425.