Mud Hole Re-route Status Thread

[Tinman]

I've started this thread to keep everyone up to date on the re-route that's been in the works since last year.

The re-route is to by-pass the mud hole area at mile 6.2 on the trail. Last year the Friends of Fordyce drove Joe Chavez in to the area to determine if a re-route was possible after it was determined that a long term fix wasn't a possibility. The area and its surroundings are all very low and cleaning up the place year after year was thought to be only a stop gap measure.

We picked a route and Joe took this information back to the TNF to line up a survey team that included members representing wildlife, environmental, and archeology. We then escorted these members of the team in and with their input and approval Joe drafted the necessary proposal for the re-route. It passed all steps and the order has been signed. We will get approval pending only a final appeal period that will end on August 28th.

I'll bring this back to the top occasionally and when I get new information.

The FOF will schedule work days to cut the new trail. We have one date set and that is October 25th. We will soon announce another in September so please mark your calendars. August is out due to expected high river flows and general burn out from Trek and other work events going on. We expect this project to take at least 3 or 4 work days to complete. We will probably get a start this year and finish up next spring. The good news is that with our upcoming grant from BFG we will be able to start some of the perks we know everyone will enjoy including some food after the work is done for the day. One of the unique aspects of working on Fordyce is the difficulty in sometimes just getting to the work area. Mile 6.2 is about as far in from any access point as any place on the trail so we will propose to meet at the work location instead of meeting at the trail head and driving in together. Camping there the night before will probably be suggested. Camping after the day's work will be recommended so we can all celebrate the hard day's work.

[Tinman]

The final Decision Memo for the Hawley and Fordyce Meadows Rehabilitation Project is quite long so I'm not going to post it here. If anybody is interested in viewing a copy e-mail me at bret@fordycetrail.org and I'll send you the file. As you can see by the title of the memo the TNF included two projects in the memo. Hawley Meadow is a separate area and has no bearing on the Fordyce project other than the possibility of an appeal on the Hawley part also impacting the Fordyce portion.

[afecko]

Good job Bret, keep up the excellent work.

Your patience to see this through is admirable.

[ErikB]

How about some cliff notes then?

[ddestruel]

didnt we get some weather on the work weekend a year or two ago that late int eh year...... I'm in for that weekend.

[Keith]

Is the the area before the large tree that is barely cut wide enough to pass through?

[Tinman]

I think I know the tree you're referring to and if so then yes.

We're working on posting the whole memo on our website but are having a few problems with that.

[jethrodeg]

Decision Memo for the Hawley and Fordyce Meadows Rehabilitation Project

http://www.fordycetrail.org/tnfs/Fin...2009_07_09.pdf

[Tinman]

Thanks big guy!

[ddestruel]

Page 2 ?


"1. Implement a limited operating period between April 1st and August 15th so no activities
occur during the willow flycatcher breeding season in suitable habitat."

[ErikB]

Ok, I'll put up some of my own cliff notes...

The Fordyce Jeep Trail (13E10) reroute will replace about ½ mile of existing system trail
that traverses through a wet meadow and has multiple stream crossings in a broad section
of stream, with an approximate ½ mile trail section outside of the sensitive meadow and
stream crossings. The replaced trail segments in these sensitive areas will be
decompacted to facilitate natural plant regeneration and will be blocked with natural
barriers to prevent further use. A section of the meadow that has been down-cut, up to
six feet deep, will be filled in with woody debris to aid in re-establishing the hydrologic
flow. Signs will be installed to direct users to the correct route. The rerouted section will
traverse over rock, and would be developed using hand tools and winches to move rock
around.
1

As for the limited operating period- that is for the work being done at Hawley, not Fordyce, and it is talking about the project activities themselves, not the normal trail use.

1. Implement a limited operating period between April 1st and August 15th so no activities
occur during the willow flycatcher breeding season in suitable habitat.

The following Region 5 Forest Service Sensitive Wildlife
Species are known to use habitat near the project area: willow flycatcher. Territories are
known to occur in Gold Valley; no territories have been identified within Hawley
Meadow. A limited operating season is included with this project so that activities do not
occur within riparian vegetation during the breeding season (April 1 to August 15).

No decisions are being
made concerning seasonal closures in this decision.

[Tinman]

Pending approval, river flows and weather we'll have our first workday the September 19, 20 weekend. Please mark your calendars.

[ErikB]

Dang, I won't be back until the 25th. Glad its getting done though.

[scottz]

do you need equipment, or just people?

[Tinman]

Mostly people. We'll be asking for volunteers to bring along loppers for brush clearing. We'll have everthing else handled. After we get back from Trek we'll be posting some info on our website as well as here.

[R290]

Originally Posted by Tinman

Edit...
The FOF will schedule work days to cut the new trail. We have one date set and that is October 25th. We will soon announce another in September so please mark your calendars. August is out due to expected high river flows and general burn out from Trek and other work events going on. We expect this project to take at least 3 or 4 work days to complete. We will probably get a start this year and finish up next spring. The good news is that with our upcoming grant from BFG we will be able to start some of the perks we know everyone will enjoy including some food after the work is done for the day. One of the unique aspects of working on Fordyce is the difficulty in sometimes just getting to the work area. Mile 6.2 is about as far in from any access point as any place on the trail so we will propose to meet at the work location instead of meeting at the trail head and driving in together. Camping there the night before will probably be suggested. Camping after the day's work will be recommended so we can all celebrate the hard day's work.

Did you mean the 24th? as the 25th is a Sunday

[Tinman]

That would be correct. 24th it is. Thanks for the correction!

[Tinman]

About a week to go until we find out for sure about the re-route. Fingers crossed.

Water release will be up around 285CFS for the September 19th workday so if you plan on attending figure that into your plans. That's kind of high for smaller vehicles so be careful and plan well if you will attempt to cross the river either to help or just enjoy the trail.

If you are planning on attending the workday please post up, PM me or e-mail me. We need to get a count for food. Remember, there will be a BBQ courtesy of the FOF and BFG as well as numerous other indivdual contributers and of course NAXJA.

I was asked what we would spend our grant money on at Trek by an off road reporter and was kind of caught by surprise. We aren't used to spending a lot of money since we have never had lots. Well after giving it some thought and letting the amount of funds we have available sink in the directors of the FOF have decided to feed the volunteers this year, purchase a trail worthy BBQ to make things easier to prepare and we aim to have FOF sweatshirts made up and available for a small donation.

We'll also provide gloves, safety glasses and loppers for the volunteers use. It will be nice not to have to ask our helpers to provide their labor AND use their own tools.

Another tool we are looking at is an off road trailer. Our first preference would of course have someone or some company donate one but even donation of parts to build one would be great. Although it would be nice to have a purpose built off road trailer it doesn't need to be that fancy. Something with high clearance, maybe 33" tires, tough, and of the correct size to fit on the trail.

Basic parts we need are an axle with hubs, springs and shocks, tires and wheels, bed and frame and some form of connection to the tow vehicle. One of the 360 degree joints would be nice but anything will work. We can fab the bed and frame if needed.

Remember, donations to the FOF are tax deductible.

We want to thank everyone in advance for considering this workday. We know it's late in the year, not a lot of notice and time is at a premium these days.

Thanks!

[tunaman]

tinman; me and my friend have an off road trailer to donate. we bought it from a guy about a year ago and intended to use it but never have. i think it would be good for fof to take advantage of it. it's good trailer with side boxes, an open cargo area, supension w/35's. it's at my friends property (above - 'scottz'), you can contact him for some pics and arrange a time to get it if you want it.

Brian.

[Tinman]

We definitely want it. Thank you very much. Remember the tax deduction so if you can put a value to it I'll bring along a receipt for your taxes!

I'll get in touch with scottz to make arrangements. It'd be cool to get some pics too. Hopefully it's between the bay area and Georgetown as I'll be up that way next weekend.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tinman]

Today is the last day to appeal the mud hole re-route plan so we should know either later today or Monday (probably) that we have the official go ahead. When we get the word we'll change the September 19th workday from tentative to a sure thing and start the sign ups for volunteers. Remember, there will be dinner served after the work is done and we'll also have some FOF sweatshirts available as well as t-shirts.

[tunaman]

it's in the sacramento area so it'll be on the way. i'm glad you guys will get use out of it. scott can give you more details but i believe it has the kind of hitch you want; it's not a ball hitch. i'd like to make it for the work weekend but i'm changing jobs and i probably can't get the time off.

[Tinman]

Sounds perfect. Just waiting to hear back from Scott to set something up.

[Tinman]

Going to pick up the trailer Friday and wait until you see us on the trail with it! It's perfect. We'll be sporting a big FOF logo on the side of course.

Now, the mud hole. We were suppose to know about our approval last Friday. The last day for appeals was Friday but it seems we have to wait a few days for any appeals that are postmarked by Friday to come in. No electronic appeals have been recieved so we're ok there. We are most likely ok but I have to wait until the official word is given. For those of you that need to plan though figure on working on the 19th. We actually have been given some work to do in conjunction with route designation so more spur trails are included. Important stuff. I'm hoping I can give the go ahead tomorrow.