The East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD) is proposing a flow/thrill cycling trail that would be located in Wildcat Canyon Park. They have hired a consultant to write an assessment of the environmental impact of the trail. This document is called an “Environmental Impact Report,” or EIR. The public gets to comment at two stages of the process. 

 

Currently, members of the public can comment on whether the scope of the EIR (as planned) is likely to identify all the impacts of the project. Later in the year, probably in the Fall, the public will be able to comment on the Draft EIR itself.

 

It is important for the public to look at the plans for the proposed trail now, to comment on the scope of questions and problems that should be considered in the EIR itself.

 

The deadline for Scoping Comments is Friday, March 13, at 5 pm. 

 

How do you comment? Go to this web page and look at EBRPD plans: 

https://www.ebparks.org/projects/wildcat-canyon-regional-park-wildcat-bike-trail

 

There is information on the EBRPD plan and how to submit your comments.  If you see problem areas that need to be examined during the EIR process, write them down and submit them to EBRPD , following the directions on the web page. You may also send copies of your comments to info@protectwildcatcanyon.org and to the individual members of the EBRPD Board of Directors.

 

Here are a few examples of concerns that are being raised: 

 

Example 1: EBRPD did not reach out to people in the residential neighborhood near the proposed trail location. There is very little parking at the closest park entrance to the proposed trail. Neighbors are commenting about the traffic, limited parking, noise, and lack of emergency medical evacuation plans.

 

Example 2: A volunteer with the Golden Gate Bird Alliance noticed that rare birds seen in the area of the trail were not listed in preliminary studies of the trail location. She is commenting on the misleading claims in the flow/thrill trail plan that say that there are no rare birds in the proposed location.

 

Example 3: A hiker familiar with Wildcat Canyon recognized the importance of wildlife corridors, migration routes, and predators that hunt after dark. He is commenting that the trail will fragment the vibrant ecology in Wildcat Canyon.

 

Example 4: UCB Professor John Taylor noticed that no restrooms were included in the flow/thrill trail plan. He became concerned about the hundreds of cyclists and spectators who would be involved in cycling events and who would be 1.5 to 2 miles from a restroom.  Here is what he is submitting to the EBRPD: (link to Taylor comment)

 

Other issues that could be raised in comments to the Park District plan include erosion and water quality in Wildcat Creek; lack of enforcement; reductions in trail safety for hikers and families and dog walkers; and loss of rare plants and animals.