Attachment [2] To: Black Hills National Forest Mystic Ranger District Date: April 14th, 2016 Subject: Letter Of Intent
As recently as April 2015, Craig Bobzien, Forest Supervisor of the Black Hills National Forest affirmed his commitment to recreational access and citizen stewardship along with the rest of the Rocky Mountain Regional Leadership Team of the USFS [1]. Despite ongoing rhetoric indicating an intent to work with the community and develop trail systems, the Black Hills National Forest has largely ignored the needs of the community for decades. Federal mandate for this cooperation exists in the form of the National Trail System Act, and local mandate in the form of the Black Hills National Forest Travel Management Plan. [2,3]
Demand for trail access into the Mystic District has been growing for many years. The trailrunning and mountainbiking industries in general have trended record growth and there appears to be no end in sight. These nondestructive, healthy outdoor activities have grown enough in the last 15 years to more than double the number of local bike shops, and have inspired the development of two urban mountain bike parks in Rapid City. This progression is supported and embraced by local, regional, and state tourism agencies because of both the economic benefits and quality of life for the state’s residents and potential residents.
As a result of inaction to meet the demand for access, the public has constructed and maintained trails at no cost to, and with the tacit permission of the Forest Service. This implied permission has been given in the form of ongoing permits for commercial use, as well as volunteer agreements allowing for maintenance of these trails. The public has spoken, they have demanded access to their forest for decades and have used those mechanisms available to them to get it. The BHMBA does not condone the building of new illegal trails; however, where trails exist, we, as good stewards of the environment, do believe in maintaining them.
The April 1st letter from the Mystic District [4] to local bicycle shops and user groups states that those individuals and groups previously lauded by both the Forest Service and the general public for their trail stewardship will now be prosecuted for those same acts. The threatened actions are inconsistent with the former de facto position of the District allowing for the establishment and maintenance of trail corridors by special use permit after the corridors already “exist on the ground”.
The Black Hills Mountain Bike Association understands the Black Hills National Forest has many perceived challenges surrounding the development and maintenance of a recreational trail system. Continued delays in developing and formalizing recreational trails will only serve to exacerbate the problems surrounding this public use of their public land. By going forward with a strategy of criminalizing access to the natural resources at our doorstep, the Forest Service will alienate potential partners, and potentially create situations that must be resolved in the federal court system.
Black Hills Mountain Bike Association (BHMBA) ● P.O. Box 9351 ● Rapid City, SD ● 57709 [email protected] http://www.bhmba.org/
In order to help avoid any negative outcomes, and in the spirit of renewed cooperation with the District, the BHMBA again formally requests a partnership to implement a progressive strategy for managing this recreational access. While the BHMBA wishes to partner with the District to overcome these challenges facing both the District and the public, it is important that the process begin immediately. The BHMBA’s proposal for this partnership, along with a proposed timeline, is attached.
[1] http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd479065.pdf [2] https://www.nps.gov/nts/legislation.html [3] http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/landmanagement/planning/?cid=STELPRDB5112303 [4] Forest Service, Mystic Ranger District; File Code 2300; 7700, Dated April 1, 2016
BHMBA Actions: In order to demonstrate our good faith, commitment, and value to the process of ongoing trail development and maintenance, the Black Hills Mountain Bike Association will commit to the following action:
● Buzzards Roost Trail System Continue providing support and maintenance to cover all system needs
● Trail 89 Rebuilding/rerouting several sections of the Centennial Trail with a sustainable and a multiple userfriendly trail alignment (Ben Schumacher indicated to Brent Kertzman in Oct. 2015 that the Mystic District would like to rebuild all the two track sections on the district into single track trail).
○ Massive resource damage is occurring on several areas on the existing Centennial Trail. BHMBA has been and will continue to work with the USFS to assess and repair or reroute these problem areas, including: Pilot Knob south to Hwy 385, Boarding House Gulch Section, Tamarack Flats to Bald Hills, Bald Hills – Twin Sisters, Bald Hills to Sheridan Lake Road, Sheridan Lake Road to Dakota Point. BHMBA has demonstrated the capabilities to perform this work alongside the USFS on the Rapid Creek Basin to Hwy 385 Crossing reroute.
○ BHMBA will install additional USFSapproved signage at all intersections on the Centennial Trail #89 and Deerfield Trail #40. In addition, BHMBA will continue to identify and mark established trails with “No Motor Vehicle” signage where there the official motorized trail network interfaces with such trails, continuing the previous efforts on this front in 20132015. Research costs and requirements for adding water cisterns at Elk Creek Trailhead, Deer Creek Trailhead, and Samelius Trailhead along the Centennial Trail.
● Trail 40 – Scoping of a sustainable reroute for the east portion of Trail #40 near the Trail #89 interface was initiated by the District on 10/13/15, with a decision and implementation expected in March 2016. The BHMBA will supply the manpower and tools to complete construction of this reroute as well as enhancing the existing trail tread west of the major pass before starting the descent into the Rapid Creek Basin & Silver City.
Black Hills Mountain Bike Association (BHMBA) ● P.O. Box 9351 ● Rapid City, SD ● 57709 [email protected] http://www.bhmba.org/
● Trail 40L – Massive resource damage is continuing to occur in the Deerfield Lake area on the Lake Loop Trail 40L. BHMBA will work with the forest service to implement reroutes on the north side of Deerfield Lake where there are unsustainable fall line grades in excess of 15%. The BHMBA will also work to keep this trail maintained and clear of fallen trees.
Requested Forest Service Actions: ● Immediate Actions: ○ Schedule Monthly Meetings between BHMBA Trail Committee and partner organizations and the Mystic District Ranger and Support Staff Ranger’s presence at the meeting is required.
● By EndofYear 2016: ○ Buzzard’s Roost Officially Designated and Listed as a BHNF trail ○ Chain Saw Certification (SR212) for designated BHMBA members ○ CPR/First Aid Training for designated BHMBA members ○ Expansion of existing Volunteer Agreements to once again allow for maintenance of designated nonsystem trails.
● By EndofYear 2017: ○ Official designation of the following trails: ■ Storm Mountain System, including the trails known as the Phoenix, Foster Gulch, and connector trails to the Victoria Lake System. ■ Victoria Lake System There is some Motorized Travel allowed in this area and Shared Use trails. ■ Shank’s Quarry/Rim Trails System There is Motorized Travel allowed in this area with numbered system trails on the Motorized Travel System. These three trail systems have existed in their current forms for the better part of a decade, and longer in most cases. These systems are near to the urban interface with the forest, are frequently used for events under special use permits, and are popular destinations for residents and visitors. It is imperative that these three trail systems be legitimized and signed for user safety/recovery, and to serve as the basis for a future trail network where each of these systems will be interconnected.
● By EndOfYear 2018: ○ The View Trail Propose to assess and add to system. The View Trail could be part of a connector trail between Shank’s Quarry Trails and Trail 89. There is Motorized Travel allowed in this area with numbered system trails on the Motorized Travel System.
● 2019 and Beyond: ○ Trail 40 Rebuild the majority of the bridges or reroute to accommodate MTB and trail runner friendly ramps and increased treaddeck width. ○ Perrin Mountain Reassess previous plans and look for a more cost effective reconstruction for Centennial access. Current access from the church camp has no bridges, yet the old Centennial TH kiosk still exists. This could potentially make a
Black Hills Mountain Bike Association (BHMBA) ● P.O. Box 9351 ● Rapid City, SD ● 57709 [email protected] http://www.bhmba.org/
connector from the Shanks Quarry trails to the Centennial easier and considers the attraction of Pactola and Rapid Creek to users. ○ Motor Boat & Hurt Locker – Propose to assess and rebuild or reroute as part of a Perrin Mountain system or loops off the centennial. This trail can be tamed down to a more moderate skill level with or without a “downhill/freeride” designation that attracts a broader range of experienced riders. ○ Trail 89 Black Elk Wilderness Area Bypass Propose and build a Centennial Trail Bypass that skirts the west side of the Black Elk Wilderness Area. The Centennial Trail/Black Elk Bypass would include recommissioning a section of the decommissioned Paha Sapa Trail and would include a building new trail over Sylvan Peak. This project would tie into the proposed Mickelson Trail Spur from Hill City to Mt. Rushmore just north of Hwy 244 near Summit Peak. ○ Trail 50 Propose a designation change on the Flume Trail to allow Mountain Biking and interconnect Storm Mountain Trails to the Centennial Trail at Sheridan Lake.
Future BHMBA / USFS commitment and partnership: In order to ensure the Mystic District is able to meet the growing demand for trail access by hikers, runners, and cyclists alike, the BHMBA will supply any engineering, design, construction, or other resources needed to complete the objectives outlined in this document. Whether reaching these goals requires leveraging the tools, labor, and skills available within the BHMBA or other volunteer partner organizations, or by subcontracting Forest Service approved partners from the public or private sectors. The BHMBA will supply whatever resources are necessary to meet our mutual goals.
Once the foundation of a sustainable, stackedloop trail system with connections to urban interfaces are in place, that trail system will require ongoing maintenance and development. Some of these future development options shall include the following interconnections:
Storm Mountain System to the Centennial Trail via Trail 50 (the Flume Trail require a designation change) Buzzard’s Roost System to Shank’s Quarry/Rim Trails System Shank’s Quarry Trail System to the Centennial Trail Buzzard’s Roost System to Victoria Lake System Victoria Lake System to the Centennial Trail (Bald Hills Area) Victoria Lake System to Storm Mountain System
Additionally, BHMBA will coordinate and work with local governments and private landowners to connect Rapid City, Johnson Siding, Silver City, Hill City, Keystone, Rockerville, Custer to their nearest officially designated trails. Our aim is to bring all of these parties’ concerns and support to the table, including the multitude of concerned user groups.
Sincerely, Black Hills Mountain Bike Association Board of Directors
Black Hills Mountain Bike Association (BHMBA) ● P.O. Box 9351 ● Rapid City, SD ● 57709 [email protected] http://www.bhmba.org/