A new 14-mile trail for hikers, runners, bicyclists and equestrians has been approved by the Placer County Board of Supervisors.
The proposed North Fork American River Trail, which has been planned for six years and is targeted for completion in 2011, will be in the Auburn State Recreation Area.
The trail will begin near the confluence of the north and middle forks of the American River and proceed 14.2 miles to the Ponderosa Crossing near Weimar.
A large stretch of the trail will run along the south side of the north fork American River Canyon.
Mary Dietrich, assistant director of the Placer County Department of Facility Services, said citizens will have an opportunity to access the "front country," as opposed to the "back country."
"It will be just 15 minutes from downtown Auburn," she said. "It's an area that is relatively remote, but it is right there in our front yard."
With surveys, consultants, an environmental impact report and future construction, the trail will end up costing about $2 million, according to Placer County officials.
But the plans for the trail didn't reach the supervisors without controversy.
Several environmental groups said the trail has been designed too wide at 6 feet and lacks sufficient mitigation.
Jim Ricker of the North Fork American River Alliance said the length and width of the trail impacts "an unused, undisturbed, high-quality wilderness area."
"We did not want a broad, wide road," he said.
The environmental groups pushed for a trail that would have been 3 feet wide, and later agreed to 4 feet wide, Ricker said.
"And then the draft EIR came out and showed the trail at 6 feet wide," he said. "It was not what the (trail advisory group) had compromised on, and no other alternatives were examined."
Dietrich said the final environmental report, which was certified by the Board of Supervisors on Aug. 26, concluded the trail would pose no adverse effects once mitigations are performed.
County staff reported to the board that all requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, had been met.
Planning for the trail began in 2002 with the formation of a 12-member advisory group comprised of hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers and staff members of the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
Call The Bee's Art Campos, (916) 773-2825.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.