Camping Program Update Prepared by: 2M Associates In collaboration with: Land Economics Consultants, LLC. Questa Engineering Corporation June 5, 2014 (DRAFT) Camping Goals Subject to availability of funding and specific Board action on individual elements, the proposed camping program should make available for interested East Bay residents a wide range of different and exciting camping experiences. It is intended that the camping experiences be diverse in nature, and that the camping sites be selected in a manner that assures a reasonable accessibility for East Bay residents, wherever they may live in the two-county area. Although a minimum number of improvements necessarily will be provided in order to accommodate the public, at all times the District's planning efforts will aim to retain a maximum of natural environmental setting. It is intended, also, that the camping facilities and experience will: • be of a regional nature. • occur in those selected District facilities in which the activity will not compromise or endanger the quality of the environment; all proposed individual camping programs (facilities and operations) will be subject to CEQA review and the park planning process. • be established with an awareness and participation of the neighboring communities which are in close proximity to the facility in which the camping activity is proposed. • be designed to insure appropriate access by persons with disabilities. Resolution No. 1996-4-80 The District will continue to plan and develop a balanced system of regional camping facilities, including day camps, group camps, backpack camps, family camps and residential camps. Master Plan 2013 Policy RFA9 C AMPING P ROGRAM U PDATE O VERVIEW This Camping Program Update continues the tradition of the East Bay Regional Park District providing a wide variety of overnight and recreational day camp opportunities through the District. This Camping Program Update is based on the camping program initiated by a Citizens Camping Task Force and adopted by the District Board in 1996. This Camping Program Update incorporates the perspectives and participation of a wide range of individuals and organizations that included: a comprehensive review of regional recreation providers, their facilities, and their perspectives of camping trends; focused discussions with representatives of groups that use the District’s camps; an internet survey; and discussions and review with District staff. The District currently includes three family camps, thirty-six group camps, twenty-two backpack camps, eight equestrian camps, and one residential camp. Day camp programs occur at any of the one hundred and sixty-nine group picnic sites spread throughout the District. These day camp programs include those offered by the District as well as other public agencies, non-profit organizations, and private enterprises. The demand for all types of camping is stable and is anticipated to increase with a growing population. New Camps Fifty-two opportunities for developing new camps in District lands were evaluated as part of this Camping Program Update. Of these, thirty-four camp sites were prioritized with thirteen new camps being identified for development in the next seven years. Other Camping Program Opportunities In the process of evaluating opportunities for new camps, and based on projected demand and trends in camping, a number of considerations about existing camps, operations, and reservations were identified that, if addressed, would also benefit the Camping Program. These include: • Updating Facilities - Many of the existing District camps are aging and do not meet today’s campers’ expectations. Some camps are simply in need of addressing deferred maintenance, and in some cases complete overhaul. June 5, 2014 (Draft) Overview - 1 Camping Program Update East Bay Regional Park District Outdated facilities, particularly restrooms in camps of all types, discourage use. Water and sewer infrastructure systems, including road design characteristics, limit use and expansion. The family camp at Anthony Chabot Regional Park is prime example of a facility needing an update. • Upgrading Reservation Systems and Family Camp Designs for Flexibility: Family camps could be re-organized with slight modifications to accommodate the trend of “family group camping” where small groups of campers desire to have their own tent or trailer site, but be hear each other and have available a common gathering place for meals and socializing. • Retrofitting and Managing Existing Camps for Multiple Use: There are existing backpack camps that could be modified with equestrian features without the need for an entirely separate camp with restroom and water supply. There are group overnight camps, most popular on weekends, that could be used for day camps during the week. There are some large group camps, that with some minimal redesign, could be used by multiple smaller groups. • Recognizing Climate: While the District is blessed with a diversity of landscapes, from a camping perspective it also is cursed with a variety of extreme microclimates. Many of the areas of the District, without shade or a water feature for comfort, are inhospitable to camping in the summer months, While this is somewhat problematic, adding shade structures to some existing camps would help. Including shade structures in new camps should be a given. Expanding Opportunities This Camping Program Update should be viewed as a living document. While some relatively new focused acquisitions in existing parks are evaluated, such as the McCosker site in Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve or the Brickyard site in the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline, the District’s land acquisition program is dynamic. Opportunities to expand the camp system will arise and should be considered in the District’s ongoing land use planning. Examples include: • Updating the Land Use Plan for acquisitions in the north Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park area to take advantage of opportunities for a self-contained multi-day backpack trip along the Calaveras Ridge Trail. • East of Mount Diablo there is a dynamic program of land acquisitions that will benefit regional trail connectivity, outdoor recreation, and habitat June 5, 2014 (DRAFT) Overview - 2 Camping Program Update East Bay Regional Park District conservation. These acquisitions, such as the Roddy Ranch and Smith properties, are linking developed District properties with existing camps as well as Mount Diablo State Park, that has family and group camps, and Marsh Creek State Park with planned hike-in and group camps. In the valleys and oak woodlands of these acquisitions, there are opportunities for environmentally themed backpack, group, and possibly family camps. Recommendations The table below presents a summary of priority (1 to 7 years) recommendations of the Camping Program Update. All new or upgraded camps are assumed to accommodate the U.S. Access Board’s accessibility guidelines of developed outdoor recreation areas. An asterisk (*) indicates recommended initial actions. Recommendations are presented in alphabetical order by District property. PRIORITY CAMP RECOMMENDATIONS General Consideration Reservations Facilitating reservations for self-organizing “mini-groups” of 20 to 25 people to book multiple contiguous sites for the same time periods. Reservations and Improving reservation and rule enforcement systems at Operations existing group picnic areas and considering weekday use for selected group camp areas for day camp reservations. Planning for New Camps (with environmental documentation) Ardenwood Historic Farm Resource and program evaluation to include a residential camp option and facilitate partner interest should such be expressed in the future. Briones Regional Park Minor LUP amendment to convert the Homestead Valley group camp into a backpack camp with equestrian facilities. Carquinez Strait Regional LUP amendment to: Shoreline* - include the Brickyard Site as a family camp with an ecology theme (tent camping, convenience camping, possibly small RV camping and potential water trail camp). - allow for reserved overnight convenience camping for access from the San Francisco Bay water trail. Delta Access Regional Initiate the land use planning for the site to include a family Recreation Area camp (tent camping, RV camping, possibly convenience camping), group camp, and potential water trail camp. Diablo Foothills Regional LUP amendment to include a backpack and equestrian camp Park at Castle Oaks along Shell Ridge. Sunol Wilderness Preserve* LUP amendment to convert the walk-in camp sites near the June 5, 2014 (DRAFT) Overview - 3 Camping Program Update East Bay Regional Park District PRIORITY CAMP RECOMMENDATIONS Visitor Center to a group picnic area and allow for a family, destination-oriented family convenience camp upstream from the day use area along the east side of Alameda Creek (see also below). Wildcat Canyon Regional Update the existing Land Use Plan to include a backpack and Park equestrian camp at the north end of the paved section of the Nimitz Way Trail (Bay Area Ridge Trail). Renovating Camp Infrastructure Anthony Chabot Regional Initiate planning for significant renovation and upgrade of Park – Family and Group water supply, waste water systems, and vehicular circulation Camps* systems to accommodate current camping needs and expanded camping opportunities (note: significant multi-year capital investment). Developing New Camps Family Camps Dumbarton Quarry Family Camp RV Camping (Phase 1)* Sunol