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Cuyamaca State Park and the squeaky wheel

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Rope and SpursCuyamaca Rancho State Park is undergoing a transformation, and it’s not too late to be heard on the matter.

The nearly 25,000-acre park has acquired more land and is adjacent to Anza Borrego State Park as well as other public lands and trails. The third and final public meeting was held nearly a year ago and the public comment period is now open.

With all of the changes planned, it would take a book to explain them all to you, but in a nutshell here we go:

You know the saying “The squeaky wheel gets the grease?” Well it seems to be working out that way with the changes in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and some other state parks. The bicycling community is large and has a strong, united opinion on how to use our parks and trails as well as how to gain more access to areas they haven’t had access to previously. This is the goal of trail users in general — more trails. They have successfully forced changes within parks across the state to increase the trail miles to which their members have access.

The equestrian community, however, while somewhat vocal has seemed less involved, less organized in the process and seems to be actually losing ground. Trails as well as other facilities within the state park system are being used in ways never before seen. Recently the state park system has been allowing non-horse groups to use camps that have been built and dedicated to equestrians, and it has allowed more mixed use on trails than in the past. This website will provide information on how the Parks Programmatic Environmental Impact Report for Changes to Trail Use proposes changing trail use: www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=26278.

A group of about 90 equestrians gathered in August to discuss the proposed park policies and expressed concerns regarding safety for equestrians and non-equestrians alike. They are concerned for the safety of the animals and people being allowed to mix in areas never before allowed, including campgrounds and trails. Safety was the number one concern of the group with the second biggest concern being loss of equestrian use that is already limited within the state park system.

A community member attending the August meeting stated, “Isn’t it a clear case of discrimination if non-equestrians can use horse camp and equestrians are denied use of all other public campgrounds? That is NOT why State Parks was founded. In 1945 the state Legislature passed the CRHT to ensure that riders would have full access to the park, particularly the routes established long before the park acquired the land. Subsequently the emergency Keene Collier Bill was passed to provide campsites, and the Dunlap Bill was passed to provide connections between public lands. State Parks openly discriminates against equestrians despite pre-existing historic and cultural uses that are grandfathered in, perhaps even violations of our California Constitution.”

Another called out, “I think policies should be in place throughout California State Parks. Equestrian camps built for and by equestrians should be equestrian (use) only and fees to said camps should be consistent across the state.”

The equestrian group has created a Facebook page to share information and concerns: www.facebook.com/groups/221699451310540.

Visit the state park website to read the documents and send informed opinions to all involved in making change. You have until Oct. 1 to be heard, and remember — “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” This is your last opportunity to be heard on the matter, related to what you may want to say.

www.parks.ca.gov/pages/21299/files/crsp%20prelim%20gp%20draft%20eir%20aug%202014r.pdf

And

www.parks.ca.gov/pages/795/files/nod%20sch%20stamped%2005.07.13.pdf

The equestrian group is forming a petition and is encouraging letters and emails be sent to:

•Senator Joel Anderson district36.cssrc.us/;

•Alexandra Stehl, California State Parks alexandra.stehl@parks.ca.gov;

•Assemblymember Brian Jones, ad71.assemblygop.com/;

•State Parks, enviro@parks.ca.gov.

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