Monday, March 20, 2006

Dog Access in Redwood Park--Urgent Meeting

If I can put on another "hat," that for advocacy for offleash dog space. Just got late notice of an important meeting this Friday, March 24 at 1 p.m. Hopefully, there will be some dog owners who have flexible schedules and can actually come to a meeting in the middle of the day. This is the memo put out by the Easy Bay Regional Park District, who administers much of the open space in the Oakland hills:
BOARD OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT
2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA 94605

Friday, March 24, 2006
1:00 p.m., Board Room

EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT
Operations Division Memorandum

TO: Board Operations Committee
FROM: Joe DiDonato, Stewardship Manager
DATE: March 15, 2006
SUBJECT: Serpentine Prairie Resource Protection Strategies

Commonly referred to as the "Serpentine Prairie" is an area within Redwood Regional Park that stretches from Redwood road northwest to Skyline Blvd. It is located behind the Trudeau Training Center at 11500 Skyline Blvd. The area has a high density of serpentine rock on which uncommon native plants occur including the largest population of one of the rarest plants in the state, the Presidio clarkia. Several other rare plants, endemic to this area only and a multitude of native grasses and forbs exist on the site. A 1977 Land Use Plan for Redwood Park identified the need for preservation of the prairie in addition to the most recent FEMA funded vegetation management plan (2003) that has developed focused action for the restoration of the site. A federal biological opinion identifies the permitted actions and the recent acquisition of grant funding has made it possible to implement management of the site. Recommendations for the site include removal of exotic trees (pines, acacias, cypress) and the implementation of a prescribed burn program to reduce the competition with exotic grasses and forbs. Additionally, various bootleg trails and public use of the area will be evaluated within the context of future management.

This area has become very popular with dog owners. Since future management may require dog use rule changes, it is important that the community understand the management challenges of the Serpentine Prairie and have an opportunity to comment on the impacts of potential management strategies. No action is being requested of the Board Operations Committee at this time. Staff has placed this item on the Board Operations Committee agenda to familiarize the Committee with the project, discuss management and protection options, and create an opportunity for public comment. Notice of this meeting has been posted on site. Community members that have expressed an interest in the project have also been notified of this
meeting.
The "serpentine prairie" was known to me as the "Hunt Field" as it was formerly used as a cross-country course for horse jumping. This hilltop has become a popular gathering place for people to let their dogs off leash and have a bit of a romp. It is convenient; there is nearby parking, and is it relatively clean and clear of mud. While I appreciate that natural resources need protection, this area has been part of the East Bay Regional park for many, many years. Unless they plan to completely fence off this area and ban all use, I argue that it would not be fair to ban dogs unless you are going to ban all recreational use. Think about how damaging fat bicycle tires are to trails. How damaging are horse hooves? There are several horse stables closeby. Why not ban them instead?

Dogs in general don't overstress an area unless their recreation is compressed to the point where it is unreasonable. Think of it like rotating grazing animals in a pasture. As the grass gets too short, the reasonable rancher will move his cows along to the next pasture in order to rest this pasture. What if that rancher is forced to only "exercise" his cows in one tiny pasture? What will happen? Well of course, that pasture will become trashed. That is what is happening every time dog owners lose access to another off-leash area. The next more convenient off-leash area has greater pressure put on it and its resources.

How far are we going to let all these concerned park people push our backs to the wall? We as a group must recognize we must organize and stand up for access to the parks our tax and bond dollars have purchased and maintained. I'll let you in on a secret: That's how the mountain bikes got access to thousands of miles of once-protected trails. They realized the answer was organize, raise election money to elect candidates friendly to their cause, and lobby. Don't take no for an answer. Now the dogs are where the bikes used to be: We aren't allowed full access to the very parks we love and we shouldn't take no for an answer.