Calif ban on off trail use in all state preserves & reserves

has sufficient trails to see pretty much everything.

Dear Ms. Mangat, Sierra Club San Diego writes to express our concern regarding the scope of the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s (DPR) proposed rule regarding off-trail use restrictions for reserves and preserves. Specifically, we are concerned that the scope of the proposed rule is much too broad, and would hinder the legitimate and responsible enjoyment of the wilderness by members of the public who have proven dedication to the protection of these places. For six decades, Sierra Club San Diego has operated its signature outdoors education and recreation program, the Wilderness Basics Course (WBC). Every spring, WBC teaches students the essentials of backpacking, wilderness survival, and responsible enjoyment of public lands. As part of the program, WBC educates students in the ethics of “leave no trace”: instructing students to hike and camp on durable surfaces, to pack in and pack out trash, to minimize the use and impact of fires, to leave what they find, and to be respectful of other people and cultures. Most importantly, WBC aims to inspire new generations of conservationists who will fight to preserve our wilderness and public lands for posterity. As part of the WBC program, students participate in four weekend backpacking trips, most of which are in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Anza-Borrego has traditionally allowed certain off-trail activities, and WBC uses this flexibility to educate students in land navigation fundamentals, appropriate campsite selection, introduction to desert flora and fauna, and how to stay safe, healthy, and found in the wilderness. Access to off-trail areas is a critical aspect of this education program, and the lessons of the WBC program would be severely curtailed if the proposed rule were adopted. Additionally, while Sierra Club’s San Diego’s WBC program would be deleteriously affected by this proposed rule, our chapter’s 11,000 members would also lose access to many of the places in Anza-Borrego that they have lovingly enjoyed and protected for decades.

Sierra Club San Diego believes that the scope of the proposed rule is far too broad, and that enforcement of such a rule in places like Anza-Borrego would hinder rather than help the preservation of California’s cultural preserves, open space, and wilderness. Not only would the proposed rule be practically unenforceable, but it would prevent programs like the WBC from adequately training its students in responsible wilderness recreation, and severely limit its mission of nurturing new stewards to care for and preserve public lands. Of course, Sierra Club San Diego understands and appreciates the need to protect environmentally sensitive areas and cultural preserves from destructive human encroachment, and we applaud DPR’s efforts to restore fragile ecosystems to full health. We believe, however, that decisions regarding off-trail restrictions should be made on a case-by-case basis, with input from the public and stakeholders for each location where such restrictions are proposed. Sierra Club San Diego urges DPR to modify the proposed rule so that decisions on off-trail restrictions are made on a case-by-case basis with adequate opportunity for public input and comment. We believe that better solutions can be fashioned to protect the most ecologically sensitive areas of our state lands from destructive encroachment, while also preserving the ability of responsible individuals and groups to enjoy wilderness areas as they have for generations. Such solutions should be crafted on a case-by-case basis, in full consultation with the public and stakeholders who know these places best. Thank you for your consideration of our concerns.

Sincerely

Davin A. Widgerow Chair, Steering Committee Sierra Club San Diego