El Corte de Madera use plan Posted December 2003
The Midpeninsula Open Space District
is working on a new use plan for El Corte de Madera (aka Skeggs point). ROMP
has been very active in helping to shape the plan, and the current draft seems
like a step in the right direction. We urge mountain bikers to get involved
and help shape the future of Skeggs. Here is a pdf
of the proposed plan (290k). Highlights: Here is a message sent out by ROMP President Paul Nam after the Nov. 19 MROSD meeting.
| Riders, [Below is] the brief sent out today on last night's meeting. Essentially the things which ROMP asked for are in the proposed plan. To find out what this is, go again to this page: http://coecore.homestead.com/Skeggs.html and read the ROMP position. It's not a done deal yet however. Your input into this process has meaning. You can email or write the MROSD with your opinions. Contact info is available on their website: http://openspace.org/ One thing you could mention, as long as you mean it, is to mention that you support volunteer trail work and maintenance activities and that you and some of your friends would definitely turn out to help. I cannot emphasize enough how much your words and deeds in comments to the MROSD towards the sort of trail system you want are needed now and will actually make a difference. Do it now, because by Christmas your opportunity will be gone for good. I'd hate to hear grousing about how this thing went sour for lack of attention by cyclists. The MROSD is interested in hearing about your suggestions from interpretive signing, ride loop possibilties for different levels, what makes good sustainable singletrack, how mountain biking can embrace and forward environmental issues or anything else you can cook up. I know you you are a creative bunch. So go to it. Thanks, Paul ---  Last night at a great public
meeting the plan for ECdM emerged. It is called a Watershed Protection
Program, and it means that a new draft plan for the trail system is
being developed. Mountain cyclists and others turned up in good numbers
to receive an excellent presentation of the plan by Open Space Planner
Matt Freeman. In order to protect and restore the habitat of Steelhead Trout and Salmon in the San Gregorio River watershed the roads and trails of ECdM will undergo a series of works, modifications, repairs and reroutes to greatly reduce erosion and siltation of area streams. Cyclists who value the preserve for its recreational and natural values were excited to learn that the mitigation process is directly in line with the sort of trail building engineering we have long revelled in. You will be excited too, as you become familiar with the potentials. ROMP will keep you up to date on the proceedings. For now the best thing you can do is to make a promise to yourself to help and volunteer a good amount of your time to trail work in the future. We need you! Let your friends know as well. There are many challenges ahead. We are now on a beautiful path combining ecological habitat preservation with state of the art trail design towards a mature and environmentally sustainable recreational trail system in the preserve. Regards, Paul |
Check out a fun El Corte de Madera loop in our Rides section.