Appendices to Cotoni-Coast Dairies Planning Public Workshops

BLM Cotoni-Coast Dairies Planning Public Workshop Summary Report

APPENDIX A | WORKSHOP NOTIFICATION MATERIALS

BLM News Release https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-host-cotoni-coast-dairies-public-access- workshops

December 2018

News Release Central California District

For Immediate Release: November 8, 2018 CA-CC-18-59 Contact: Serena Baker, 916-941-3146, [email protected]

BLM to host Cotoni-Coast Dairies public access workshops

MARINA, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management Central Coast Field Office will host two public workshops to explore recreational access opportunities at the Cotoni-Coast Dairies unit of the California Coastal National Monument in Santa Cruz County. The content and activities will be the same at both workshops:

• Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 5 to 7 pm, Louden Nelson Community Center, 301 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA. • Thursday, Dec. 13, from 5 to 7 pm, Bonny Doon Elementary School, 1492 Pine Flat Road, Santa Cruz, CA. The Cotoni-Coast Dairies property was donated to the BLM in 2014 and encompasses nearly 6,000 acres along Santa Cruz County’s North Coast. Access to the property is limited to guided tours currently. These workshops will provide an opportunity for the BLM to share information and gather feedback on options to expand access to the property. The Cotoni-Coast Dairies extends along the Pacific Coast Highway near Davenport. This property is marked by six forested perennial streams that flow from the Santa Cruz Mountains into the Pacific Ocean: Molino Creek, Agua Puerca Creek, San Vicente Creek, Liddell Creek, Yellow Bank Creek and Laguna Creek. Between these riparian drainages are broad marine terraces used for livestock grazing. The property supports a wide variety of habitats and wildlife, including coho salmon, steelhead trout, California red-legged frog, mule deer and mountain lions. The BLM is committed to keeping public landscapes healthy and productive, while providing opportunities for outdoor recreation. For further information about the Cotoni-Coast Dairies workshops or recreation opportunities within the Central Coast region, please contact Mike Powers at 831-582-2200, or [email protected]. The BLM is asking participants who wish to attend the workshops to RSVP at https://goo.gl/forms/y3MHEoXVO1Pm9zKA3. Please contact us for reasonable accommodations to participate. The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The agency’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Diverse activities authorized on these lands generated $96 billion in sales of goods and services throughout the American economy in fiscal year 2017. These activities supported more than 468,000 jobs. -BLM-

Central Coast Field Office, 940 2nd Avenue, Marina, CA 93933

BLM Cotoni-Coast Dairies Planning Public Workshop Summary Report

APPENDIX B | WORKSHOP HANDOUTS

▪ Agenda ▪ Presentation Slides https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/documents/files/Cotoni- Coast_Dairies_Public_Workshop_11-30-2018.pdf

December 2018

Cotoni-Coast Dairies Planning Public Workshop Agenda — Central Coast Field Office, California

LOUDEN NELSON BONNY DOON December 4, 2018 | 5:00-7:00p December 13, 2018 | 5:00-7:00p Louden Nelson Community Center, Bonny Doon Elementary School, Multipurpose Room Auditorium 301 Center Street, Santa Cruz 1492 Pine Flat Road, Santa Cruz

Note: The content and activities will be the same at both workshops

Workshop Goals

1. Introduce the Bureau of Land Management 2. Outline the planning process 3. Explore potential access points for Cotoni-Coast Dairies Agenda 5:00 Welcome and Introductions 5:10 Meeting Goals and Agenda Review 5:15 Introduction to the BLM and Project Planning . BLM Commitment to Working with Stakeholders and Communities . Cotoni-Coast Dairies Resource Management Plan Development . Process Road Map: Where are we headed, Where are we now, and How to contribute 5:35 Understanding Proclamation and What the BLM has Learned to Date 5:45 Presentation on Potential Access Points 6:00 Feedback and Discussion on Potential Access Points . What criteria would you like the BLM to consider when thinking about access? . What are your thoughts about the potential access points? Why? 6:50 Wrap Up: High Level Summary and Next Steps to Formal Planning Process

Questions about the December Workshops? Please contact Mike Powers at the BLM Central Coast Field Office at [email protected] or 831-582-2200. U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management

Cotoni-Coast Dairies California Coastal National Monument Meeting Goals and Agenda

● Introduce BLM to community

● Outline the BLM’s planning process

● Explore potential public access sites BLM Introduction

• Sustain the health and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations • Priority focus on public access, recreation & conservation • National Conservation Lands are part of the BLM mission: National Monuments, National Conservation Areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and Wilderness Areas Central Coast Field Office California Coastal National Monument

• Stretches from the Oregon border to Mexico border

• Comprised of thousands of rocks, islands and six mainland units (including Cotoni-Coast Dairies) Cotoni-Coast Dairies Property History • Prior to mid-1700s: Costanoan/Ohlone land • Mid-1700s to mid-1800s: Spanish and Mexican land grants • Early 1900s: Coast Dairies and Land Company; Portland Cement Company • 1998: Acquisition by Trust for Public Land • 2014: Donation to BLM • 2017: Presidential Proclamation 9563 Deed Restrictions

• “Property to be managed for open space and public recreation consistent with protection and preservation of natural resources…” • Public recreational access, open space and grazing are priority uses • No commercial timber operations or motorized off-road vehicles Presidential Proclamation 9563

• Expands the California Coastal National Monument

• Highlights pre-European cultural resources, creek and riparian systems and biological communities

• The property “shall become available for public access upon completion of a management plan” The BLM and Project Planning

● 1998: BLM Commitment to Working with Stakeholders and Communities ● 2004: Coast Dairies Long-Term Resource Protection and Access Plan ● 2005: California Coastal National Monument Resource Management Plan (RMP)

● 2014: BLM Interim Management Plan BLM Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment for Cotoni-Coast Dairies

Formulate Range of Alternatives & Analyze Impacts

No Action Alternative (Current Management)

Incorporate Federal Register Federal Register Alternative X Public Comments Federal Register Notice of Intent Develop Planning Select Preferred Notice of on Draft RMP Public Protest Public Scoping Period Public Comment Period Notice of for Criteria Alternative Availability Amendment Availability for Period 30-days (30 days) RMP Amendment (optional) for Draft RMP Proposed RMP (30 days) Amendment Amendment Revise Proposed Alternative Y Plan, as needed. BLM News Release BLM News Release BLM News Release

Resolve Protests, Alternative Z Issue Notice of Gather input/comments from: Significant -- Cooperating Agencies Change(s), Gather input/comments from: -- Elected Officials as needed Alternatives -- Cooperating Agencies -- Organizations Considered, -- General Public but Not Analyzed -- Elected Officials -- Organizations -- General Public Record of Decision, Approved RMP Amendment

On-going Coordination and Consultation with Local, State, and Federal Agencies, and Native American Tribes Conceptual Planning Areas Current Management Potential Public Access Points Group Discussion

• What criteria would you like the BLM to consider when planning for access? • What are your thoughts about the potential access points? Why? Wrap-Up and Next Steps BLM Cotoni-Coast Dairies Planning Public Workshop Summary Report

APPENDIX C | SUBMITTED WRITTEN FEEDBACK

(Submitted by January 11, 2019) ▪ Workshop Participants ▪ Davenport North Coast Association ▪ Renee Shepherd ▪ Jim Bierman ▪ Marcia Lipsenthal

December 2018

DNCA’s COTONI-COAST DAIRIES NATIONAL MONUMENT TALKING POINTS 12/18

The Davenport North Coast Association appreciates the Bureau of Land Management’s desire to provide public access in a timely manner, as well as the ongoing congenial relationship with the current and past Cotoni-Coast Dairies BLM management staff.

A key element of the National Monument Declaration language included the sentence: “The Cotoni-Coast Dairies unit of the monument shall become available for public access upon completion of a management plan, by the BLM, consistent with the care and management of the objects identified above.” The objects referred to are the specific lands and natural resources of the Cotoni-Coast Dairies unit of the monument.

Stakeholders, including the DNCA and Santa Cruz County, were assured that the management plan mentioned in the declaration would be a comprehensive plan, specific to the Cotoni-Coast Dairies unit, prepared via a full NEPA /EIS process.

We understand that BLM is working to amend the Coastal National Monument Resource Management to allow some limited public access prior to the completion the management plan mentioned above. We look forward to continuing to work with BLM staff and other stakeholders towards the timely completion of the Management Plan mentioned in the declaration language.

2015 National Monument Survey North Coast Respondents

· Environmental Impacts: DNCA advocates for the completion of a Comprehensive Management Plan, specific to the Cotoni-Coast Dairies unit, prepared via a full NEPA /EIS process to address environmental impact mitigations of recreation on local species habitat, plant communities and other concerns, including the 3 T’s – Traffic, Trash & Trauma. · Traffic: We advocate for regular law enforcement patrols to manage safety impacts of additional visitor traffic on county roads including Swanton Road, Cement Plant Road and Davenport Landing Road, as well as installing turn pockets for safety.

· Trash & Toilets: We advocate for bathrooms and reliable trash pick-up in all access- point parking areas, as well as timely illegal dumping, graffiti, and abandoned car removal.

· Trauma: includes need for first responders and prevention of all disasters - fire, accidents, and flooding from erosion. We advocate for closing parking areas nightly.

o Fire: The biggest concern is persons trying to camp on the property illegally and starting a wildfire. We advocate for routine patrols to discourage camping and fires.

o Accidents: Currently our first responders are CalFire Swanton & depleted Davenport Volunteer Fire Department. We advocate for avoiding bike accidents by having separate hiking and biking trails whenever possible. BLM needs to provide for increased emergency response capacity.

o Erosion: Trails must be built to prevent erosion. We advocate for patrols to discourage biking off designated trails or creating “renegade trails”.

· Law Enforcement: The 8,600-acre San Vicente Redwoods will have 2 FTE sheriff’s deputies and 1FTE County Parks Ranger; BLM has 1 Ranger, Nick Lasher. We advocate for more rangers on the 5,600-acre Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument.

Thank you for your consideration,

Noel Garin Bock, DNCA Chairperson Davenport/North Coast Association [email protected] 831-423-3033 831-332-0646 Cell See our DNCA Facebook page

I would very much like to see equestrian access and riding trails in the property. I'm a trail rider who uses coastal parks and would very much like the opportunity to ride in this property, and hopefully connect to others. In return, I think you will definitely find that the Santa Cruz County Christmas Association, of which I am a member, is more than willing volunteer to do trail maintenance and development. And of course I would volunteer individually. One of the reasons I live in Santa Cruz is to be able to use the public trails with my horse. Responsible horse use has been an integral part of this property for generations; let's see it continue under this public ownership. I would be more than willing to pay for the privilege, if there were a fee for use. Multiuse trails work well for pedestrians and horseback riders (I firmly believe, mountain biking and bike riders should have separate trails from pedestrians and horseback riders for safety reasons) Please put me on the mailing list to know of future public input events and workshops going forward.

Thank you very much

Renee

Renee Shepherd

Dear Ben,

As you are well aware, I suffer pangs of anxiety when I hear discussion regarding the placement of a parking lot and trailhead for the Coast Dairies’ “Laguna trail” on the second marine terrace. Putting a paved road up onto the second terrace is in violation of the agreements prohibiting motor vehicles on that property (attached to the Coast Dairies deed), and a tremendous visual imposition on the terrain. As you can see from this photograph, taken this April 3rd, the dirt track through the draw leading from Frambrini’s field to the second terrace is a virtual creek during the winter months.

More importantly, a parking lot on the second terrace, while not visible from Highway 1 or the coastal beaches, will be visible from the third marine terrace anywhere east of Bonny Doon Road. That means that it will mar any vista out toward the ocean on that whole end of the Coast Dairies property.

In the interest of avoiding this aesthetic disaster, I would like to urge you to give some further consideration to the alternative location of a trailhead and parking lot at the base of Bonny Doon Road. This trailhead would provide trail access to the best of the bench lands (including the Laguna Creek ridge) and it will offer access to a far richer variety of terrains and landscapes than a trail simply over the grassland ridges. Furthermore, it would provide for a trailhead and parking tucked away out of the view of the highway, the coast, and the surrounding Coast Dairies ridges.

First a map, and then the discussion: I am enclosing a copy of the USGS map of the area, which I have keyed with numbers attached to nine spots on the first trail I would suggest; one that goes over the high ridge between Liddell Canyon and Yellow Bank Canyon. The comments that follow are in reference to the various numbers.

# 1 – Parking: As you can see from the USGS map, this was previously the location of a home site. When I hiked in this area in the 1980s and later, there was an abandoned house here that backed up to the creek and had a rough field stretching from the house toward Bonny Doon Road. There was also a dirt road that went north along the creek, and had a yellow gate to limit access. (That gate is still there.) The dirt road was a functional single-lane track, and pickup trucks would occasionally use it to gain access to the limestone quarry that fed the Davenport cement plant. Thus, the road was kept in passable shape right up into the turn of the 21st century, although it was little used. The Bonny Doon Road access to the site is presently marked by a gate, and the field along the road is entirely overgrown with tall vegetation, including a forest of hemlock plants. That vegetation is now so overgrown that it limits visibility along that section of the road. The site is only about 100+ yards from the point where Bonny Doon Road intersects Highway 1. That means that there could be secondary parking at the already existing parking lot designed for beach parking. I am told that the location of the old house site gets quite wet in the winter, but I have never seen it looking soggy. #2 – Bridge: Just East of the point where the West and East branches of Liddell Creak meet, there is an old bridge that is no longer passable. It would need to be repaired or, more likely, replaced.

# 3 – The Liddell trail: This is a very beautiful canyon trail that keeps the east fork of Liddell Creek in sight for most of the way to point #4 on my map. It is presently in terrible shape, but could be restored to its previous state by a trail crew with the right tools. At present, large sections of the trail are overgrown with massive tangles of brush, and there are a considerable number of trees that have fallen across the trail in this year’s heavy rains. In addition, there is one large landslide that has buried one section of the trail from above. At this spot, as in the entire trail, the underlying roadbed is holding up fine. The trail is almost entirely level, with a slight overall incline, and adequate for a leisurely stroll. Starting at the coast, the dense creek-side vegetation gives way to chaparral brush as the trail goes inland. At about one third of the way, the trail enters a beautiful shaded redwood forest, and continues in that forest all the way to points 4 and 5 on the map. It follows Liddell Creek at a slight distance and the water can be seen from time to time. The floor of the trail and surrounding forest is carpeted with redwood sorrel. Even on a hot day, it’s cool and comforting. If properly maintained, this first section of the trail could even accommodate visitors with physical challenges.

#4 – The Water Road. At this point, the Liddell Trail meets a dirt road maintained by the City of Santa Cruz Water Department. Turning right, the dirt road climbs steeply for about a quarter of a mile to the top of a ridge at point #5. The entire west side of that ridge, from Liddell Creek up to the crest is deep redwood forest. The eastern side of the ridge is covered in chaparral brush. From time to time, you can see a black (ABS?) water pipe maintained by the city of Santa Cruz.

#5 – The wooded trail to the top of the ridge: Turning right, a single-track trail follows the crest of the ridge uphill along a moderate incline until it breaks out onto open meadowlands at point #6. At one point. one has an excellent view out Liddell canyon. In the distance, you can see a cliff that looks out over the canyon.

# 6 – The Ridge: This ridge provides excellent views out over Yellow Bank Canyon and Laguna Canyon to the east, and Liddell Canyon to the west. Beyond them, one can see all the way down the coast and across the bay, as well as various views of the lower bench lands. Unfortunately, a recent invasion of French Broom crowds the eastern end of this ridge, and should be mowed back.

# 7 – The best View Spot: Just east of the trail is one of the most extraordinary view spots in the entire Coast Dairies land. Standing or sitting at the edge of a cliff, you can see the entire Liddell Canyon from the ocean to the quarry and beyond. If you have arrived at this point via the Liddell trail, you can look down on the path you previously travelled.

# 8 – The second terrace: The trail drops down onto the second marine terrace. It is covered in grass (and thistles), and is level. Cattle regularly graze here. # 9 - - Back to the Parking Lot: According to the old USGS maps, there was a trail through this draw to the creek and old house site. I haven’t checked this out yet, but I presume we can find a way to connect to the trailhead and parking lot without going out to the roadway. As you can see on this map, there is a dirt road, but it goes along a farmer’s field, and should probably be avoided.

On hiking from the Bonny Doon trailhead: Hikers would have two choices from the start. Those who follow this route from # 1 to # 9 should experience a good day hike in a variety of terrains, ranging from level redwood forests, to steep climbs and high meadows. Those who want only a quiet stroll could simply go up the canyon, and those who seek the vistas could just climb directly up to view spot # 7 and skip the long inland sections. For even more ambitious hikers, they need only to continue on the dirt road beyond point 5 to the bottom of the next canyon east (Yellow Bank), and they will be only a couple hundred yards from the little redwood grove recently added at the end of the Laguna trail. They could then enjoy everything that trail has to offer. In effect, the Bonny Doon trailhead could serve as an access point for the entire eastern end of the Coast Dairies land. Located directly across Highway 1 from Bonny Doon Beach, visitors could even combine a hike with an ocean swim.

I don’t imagine that opening up the trail(s) I describe could be accomplished without difficulties. Just dealing with the fallen trees, the slide, and the overgrowth of brush that presently clogs the Liddell trail is considerable. I am also certain that the BLM has applicable rules and regulations that I am not aware of … not to mention the Santa Cruz Water Department. There are also, almost certainly, habitat preservation issues that will have to be taken into account. Nonetheless, given the alternatives for access to the eastern end of the Coast Dairies property, I think this is one that deserves your full consideration. I will be happy to participate in this process, if you feel that I can be of use. I can be reached by return email or by phone at (831) 429-1205.

Cordially,

Jim Bierman

December 18, 2018

Dear Ben,

I did some serious rethinking regarding the trails on the eastern end of the Cotoni - Coast Dairies property as a result of the public workshop at the Bonny Doon School last Thursday. I had previously dismissed the idea of an entry and trailhead at the Yellow Bank Creek corral because the last time my wife, Marcia, and I hiked the mile or so following Yellow Bank creek from the Water Department dirt road inland to the coast we found the trail to be difficult (it was overgrown with dense brush) and unattractive. What I had overlooked was that starting at the Yellow Bank corral area and heading either right or left facing inland (west/yellow or east/red) one has immediate access to the second and third coastal terraces, and beautiful trails from the start.

1 In particular, the trail to the east follows a narrow fin ridge that opens up onto the second terrace at the point where you had previously envisioned a parking lot and a start to the Laguna Creek trail. The Yellow Bank trail starts with a dirt road that passes under some shade trees, and then opens up on moderately sloped grazing land.

From the moment it starts, there are beautiful views on the ocean side of the trail, and views into a side canyon branching off the main Yellow Bank canyon. At the top of the fin ridge, there are two trails, one of which follows the edge of the side canyon. The other leads directly up the fin ridge until it joins the open terrace. The views along this trail are beautiful in both directions – especially out to the ocean. You can see up and down the coast from the Monterey peninsula to Ano Nuevo Island.

The two trails can be entered by starting at Yellow Bank Canyon, eliminating the need for an entry point at Bonny Doon Road or the Marina Ranch Gate. Both of the two main trails on the third terrace are easily accessed from this one central location, and both can be joined up by longer loops for more ambitious hikers. Above all, this access would eliminate the need to scar the monument by putting in a road to the second terrace and a parking lot on it (Marina Ranch Gate). If, or when, the Liddell Creek canyon trail is added, it will easily join with this access.

I am enclosing a map of a possible trail network that I could envision for the entire eastern end of the Cotoni-Coast Dairies land. The red trails spreading from a single access point, which I have described above, are already in existence, as are the true blue trails. The light blue trail also exists at present… it is a segment of the dirt road maintained by the Santa Cruz city water department. The yellow area circled on the map trail indicates the Redwood grove that presently sits at the end of the (recently extended) Laguna trail.

With a reestablishment of the green trail in the center we would effectively have two loops and two ridge trails that have astonishing views from one end to the other. That green trail would go up Yellow Bank canyon, following the creek, for about one mile from the coast to the city water road. I use the word “reestablishment” because it follows the bed of a dirt road that was

2 commonly used by the Coast Dairies cattle ranchers in the 1970s and 80s. Decades ago, I hiked it regularly, and it was routinely used for the annual cattle round up in August. At that time, hundreds of cows were gathered from the high meadows and herded down to the Yellow Bank corral where they were then taken off the land by large cattle trucks. At present, the previous dirt road is severely overgrown, and it would require some aggressive clearing to open it up.

The same is true for the other green trail on my map – the Liddell Creek trail. It also follows a dirt road bed that was once commonly used for access to the limestone quarry previously serving the Davenport cement plant. It is also severely overgrown – particularly at the ocean end – and it also follows a creek along the bottom of a steep canyon. It is longer than the Yellow Bank canyon trail, but has much more to see along the inland half of the trail, where it passes through a beautiful redwood forest – one that is considerably more mature than the redwood grove at the end of the Laguna trail. Even at the overgrown end of the trail, there are engaging things to see.

I am sure you aware that the issue of the location of a parking lot is a thorny one. According to Coastal Commission Regulations, it must not be visible from Highway 1, the coast, or any public parklands. Those limitations eliminate all the proposed parking lots on the eastern end of the Monument with the exception of the Bonny Doon Road lot or the Yellow Bank lot – if it were located at the corral area. In addition, there is an issue with road safety at the points of entry along Highway 1. The California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) is likely to require a third lane at locations where a left turn across oncoming traffic is needed to access the lot, which further complicated the issue. At the public workshop last week, someone suggested that a tunnel could be placed under the highway at the Yellow Bank location. That idea got me wondering how the water from Yellow Bank Creek manages to find its way to the ocean through two berms (both Highway 1 and the train tracks), so I went to the beach there to check, and, sure enough, there is a tunnel already cut in the second berm that pipes the water out to sea. Needless to say, this is not adequate for human traffic, but it does demonstrate that the tunnel idea is possible. I think it would be better if a way could be found to allow traffic into the Yellow Bank Corral area. It is not visible from the sea, the highway, nor the upper levels of the Monument. There is, however, still the issue of the left hand turn off the highway.

I would welcome a chance to discuss the matter of access with you in the near future… possibly making the hike together from the Yellow Bank corral out to the second terrace at the possible start of the Laguna trail. If, or when, you are available kindly contact me. I believe you have my coordinates, or you can send me a note by return email.

Warmest greetings,

Jim Bierman

4 ------Forwarded message ------From: Marcia Lipsenthal Date: Fri, Jan 11, 2019 at 5:13 PM Subject: [EXTERNAL] Cotoni -Coast Dairies To: Mike Powers ,

Dear Mike, Bryan and anyone else who is interested (Ben Bloom, Sky Murphy), I attended the meeting at Bonny Doon School on December 13, 2018 regarding access to the Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument. I was glad to have the opportunity to voice some of my ideas, but disappointed that we only discussed access: recreation, not conservation. While I believe both are important components of the public’s approach to CCD, I find that only recreation seems to be discussed. I would like an analysis of the flora and fauna of the land; what grows where and why, and same for birds and animals, with large areas set aside for conservation only.

I have roamed over the “southern” portion of CCD for 35 years, and know that what makes that section of CCD remarkable is the breathtaking views of the ocean. Taller, older, more majestic redwood groves can be found at Big Basin (Waddell) and Henry Cowell, but the views from Cotoni-Coast Dairies can not be beat. Please see my attached comments on the meeting, and forward them to the appropriate parties.

Thank you.

Best Regards, Marcia Lipsenthal Smith Grade (Bonny Doon)

Comments on “Southern” access plan for Cotoni-Coast Dairies

Liddell Creek at Bonny Doon Road Parking – There is existing parking here on the ocean side of Hwy 1; on a summer day or fall day, this lot is always full to overflowing. A parking lot could be created inside the gate on Bonny Doon Road on the level spot where an old farm house once existed. Brush along Bonny Doon Road could easily be cleared to enhance visibility of traffic for entrance and exits. The advantage of this lot would be that it would invisible both from Hwy 1 and from anywhere on the proposed trail. Trail – There is an old existing road that starts at the gate on BD Road that goes along Liddell Creek up onto the 2nd marine terrace that allows spectacular ocean and mountain views. The trail is currently impassable in large part; there is a fallen bridge that needs work, and lots of brush and trees that have fallen and grown over the old road that once led to the quarry, but I think this trail can be opened and enjoyed without too much trouble.

Yellow Bank Creek (overpass) Parking – I’m not clear on why an overpass is proposed here, without acknowledging that there already is a large unimproved parking area at Yellowbank that can hold many cars, and provides access to the state administered trails and beaches on the coast side of Hwy 1. Across Hwy 1 from the proposed overpass, is a gate across a short road that leads to a level area that where there is an old corral. This would be a perfect area for a parking lot, and from there access is easily possible to the 2nd marine terrace (with gorgeous views) and other proposed trails, including the ones at Liddell Creek and Laguna Road Trail – There is nothing terribly interesting or beautiful along the Yellowbank Creek trail; I don’t know why it is being proposed at all. It too is wildly overgrown.

Marina Ranch Gate Parking – To get to the proposed parking lot at the Marina Ranch gate, one drives up an old road that completely washes out in the rainy season. The road turns into a mucky tunnel along a pretty little coastal arroyo. The proposed parking lot, on the 2nd marine terrace, would be a horrible scar on the land. This parking lot would be visible by any hikers or bikers or equestrians using the trails in this area, and would be a blight on the beautiful views that access to this area provides. Trail- See the bold face type in the Yellow Bank Creek section

Laguna Road & Hwy Parking – I am not able to visualize how 20 or 30 cars can be parked in the existing parking lot, even with extensive improvements, and I can’t see any way the parking lot can be enlarged. I am not an expert in parking lot design. This lot is at the “southern” border of the National Monument, bordering on and leading to private property. I think it is an intrusive location for access to the property. Trail- The trail that has already been partially completed can be accessed through the Yellow Bank parking area that I mentioned above. This would keep people away from the Laguna Road, (which if followed for a mile, would lead people right below my house), along where there are several homes, and the city water pipe from Laguna Creek. I think access should not be provided at this spot.