News

TRAIL MANAGEMENT PLAN BEING DEVELOPED
by Ed Stauss
October 8, 2005

The National Park Service, California State Parks, and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy are preparing an interagency regional Trail Management Plan (TMP) that will establish the overall direction of future development and completion of the SMMNRA trail network over the next ten to fifteen years. Initial public input was solicited during a series of meetings in late September 2005.

Based on natural, cultural and recreational resources and the public need, the TMP will prescribe policies for maintenance of existing trails and development of new trails throughout Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The TMP will include a trail policy map depicting the planned trail network. The TMP will discuss proposed locations for trails and trailheads; trail construction, management, and operation guidelines; and allowable uses. An Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report will accompany the TMP to provide a detailed analysis of potential environmental impacts of the proposed plan.

For more information: Parkplanning.nps.gov and under "Choose a Park," select "Santa Monica Mountains NRA."

Maps of the existing trails with proposed changes and additions are on display at the National Park Visitor Center, 401 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360.

Trail users may enjoy reviewing the detailed trail maps of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area which are available as PDF files for dowloading at http://www.nps.gov/samo/trails/roster.htm. Users have commented that it is better to download (right click and select "Save Target As") these maps for long term availability. Another tip is to download and print the Legend to have on paper while viewing the maps on screen.

Public comments may be submitted until October 21, 2005, via one of the following (please be sure to state that your comments are in regards to the Trail Management Plan): the National Park Service Planning website portal: http://Parkplanning.nps.gov (select Santa Monica Mountains NRA); Email: SAMO_Trails@nps.gov; regular mail: Trails Management Plan, National Park Service, 401 W. Hillcrest Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360; or by fax: 805-370-1850 (Attn: Trail Management Plan). You may also call the National Park Visitor center at 805-370-2301 with questions.

The photos below show park personnel and the public examining trail maps at Webster Elementary School in Malibu on Saturday, September 24, 2005.