Title
Chief Administrative Office, Parks Division, recommending the Board approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the following agencies for coordination efforts on the Rubicon Trail:
1) Placer County;
2) Tahoe National Forest;
3) Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit;
4) Eldorado National Forest; and
5) California State Parks Off Highway Motor Vehicle Division.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Rubicon Trail runs through El Dorado County (14.6 miles) and Placer County (7.5 miles) and across three national forest jurisdictions: Tahoe National, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and Eldorado National Forest. The trail is an important regional asset in El Dorado County, as shown in the attached economic impact study. The trail runs from Loon Lake/Wentworth Springs to the Tahoma staging area. The whole trail is important for historic purposes, recreation, and the tourists that travel from all over the world to experience it.
The purpose of the MOU is to document the cooperation between the parties to manage, maintain and enhance the Rubicon Trail to foster: a seamless user experience; the trails long-term sustainability and availability to the public; user safety and education; the protection of the natural, cultural and historic resources along and surrounding the trail; and the enforcement of regulations along the entire length of the trail.
El Dorado County has been successful with the maintenance and management of the Rubicon Trail within El Dorado County. There are unique fixes and techniques that have been developed for the trail over the years. However, it takes all agencies working together to protect this resource. This agreement provides the foundation for all agencies to work together to keep the Rubicon Trail open in El Dorado County and Placer County.
This is a revised agreement. El Dorado County entered into a five year agreement in 2012 with the Eldorado National Forest and State Parks Off Highway Motor Vehicle Division. This agreement was signed by the El Dorado County Sheriff and the Director of Transportation. The agreement expired in 2017. With issues starting to develop on the Placer side of the trail, it was determined that the other Forest units and Placer County should be involved in this agreement and that El Dorado County has already solved a lot of the issues facing that side of the trail. At that time it was also decided that there should be two agreements, one that focuses on law enforcement and the other on maintenance and operations.
El Dorado County’s current role on its portion of the trail includes facilitating the Rubicon Oversight Committee (ROC), providing maintenance, and making Rubicon Trail maps publicly available, providing law enforcement, maintenance, operations, grant writing and administration, and environmental monitoring.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to not enter into the agreement. This would mean that El Dorado County would not assist with the portion of the Rubicon Trail located in Placer County. If the trail is closed in Placer County it would create a trail that has only one way in and one way out. This would be an issue for maintenance of the trail for El Dorado County.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
The Sheriffs Office has a separate MOU with all the agencies above for law enforcement activities.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact with this MOU. El Dorado County has applied for grants that cover its portion of the trail.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1. Chair to sign seven (7) originals of the MOU.
2. Board Clerk's Office to return six (6) original MOUs to Parks Division for distribution to Agencies.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure
CONTACT
Creighton Avila, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
Vickie Sanders, Parks Manager