the conference program - California State Parks - State of California

The Path to Gold: Ten Steps to Tapping
Transportation Dollars
Want your trails projects to get funding like
a road-builder, rather than settling for grants
that barely offer budget dust? This session
explains how to get your biking or walking trail
incorporated into California’s transportation
plans, including how you can unlock the bicycle
and pedestrian transportation funds available
to turn transportation plans into action. State
and regional transportation planners will offer a
step-by-step guide to the transportation planning
and funding programs you can use to improve
important trail routes.
Dan Ray, Chief of Planning, California State Parks
Ann Mahaney, Planner, California Department of
Transportation
Tools & Technology for Accessible Trails
Learn how to inventory and create trail
information that will help trail users make
informed and safe decisions about where
they want to hike. We will review the latest
design guidelines and equipment for providing
detailed trail information, including grades,
cross slopes and distances. You will learn how to
create different signs and maps for displaying
this information at trailheads, web sites and
information centers. We will also review proven
techniques for trail maintenance, surfacing
improvements, construction practices and new
trail design that will provide better trail access
and reduce maintenance concerns. Tips for
obtaining trail improvement funding will also be
shared.
Peter Axelson, Director of Research &
Development, Benefi cial Designs, Inc.
Jeremy Vlcan, Trails Assistant, Benefi cial Designs,
Inc.
SSessions e s s i o n s
14
GIS Best Practices for Trail Projects
Rapid changes in technology and tight budgets
can make it diffi cult to fi gure out the most
effective uses of GIS and related mapping
tools for trail planning, implementation and
maintenance. This session will distill the best
and most cost-effective approaches to using
desktop and web-based computer mapping to
support trails projects, covering trail databases,
landscape analysis, task management, user
support, communication, fundraising and
outreach. We’ll use the Bay Area Ridge Trail
as our primary example, showing how they’ve
evolved in using volunteer, consulting and staff
resources. Emphasis will be on low cost, high
return uses of GIS technology that have the
greatest chance of ongoing success.
Larry Orman, Executive Director, GreenInfo
Network
Janet McBride, Executive Director, Bay Area
Ridge Trail Council
Rhonda Friberg, Interactive Solutions Manager,
GreenInfo Network
John Kelly, Sr. GIS Specialist, GreenInfo Network
The Most Dangerous Animal on the Trail
People who work and play in the out-of-doors
are at risk for Lyme disease and other tick-borne
diseases. The Centers for Disease Control admits
that more than 200,000 people may acquire
Lyme disease each year in the U. S., a number
greater than AIDS, West Nile Virus and Avian
Flu combined. Today, many of those untreated
will suffer chronic debilitating illness. Some
unknowingly will pass the disease on to their
unborn children. Many will lose their livelihoods,
and still others, their lives. Knowledge has proved
to be the best prevention for Lyme disease and
other tick-borne illness.
Steve Diers, Ranger/Naturalist II, East Bay
Municipal Utility District