East Mountain Trails & Bikeways Master Plan - Bernalillo County

4. Develop a Trails and Facilities
Stewards Program
The County, in conjunction with the East
Mountain Coalition and NPS RTCA should
develop its own trail stewards program. This
program would engage formal user groups
(Horseways NM, etc.) and community groups
(neighborhood associations, churches, etc.) to
undertake the management of trails, trail access
facilities and recreation areas. The development
of this program would engage the community
directly in the maintenance of the trails system,
increasing the level of care and use by members
of the community, and decreasing costs to the
County.
5. Develop Formal Memorandums
of Understanding (MOUs) with the
National Forest and other Land
Management Agencies
The County should undertake the negotiation and
execution of formal MOUs with the National
Forest and other open space organizations in
the area, such as City of Albuquerque Open
Space, State Land Office, Albuquerque Public
Schools, Isleta Pueblo and East Mountain
Coalition. This will enable the County to jointly
implement some of the projects under the Master
Plan, and thereby perhaps shift some of the cost
and accelerate the implementation schedule.
The MOUs will also enable the County to
leverage additional funding for trails facilities, and
to share management responsibilities. The
MOUs would also increase the level of
cooperation between the County and these other
agencies.
6. Develop a Trails Map for the
East Mountain Area
The County in tandem with the East Mountain
Coalition, the US Forest Service, State Land Office,
City of Albuquerque Open Space and stakeholders
should undertake to develop a full color trails map for
the area. This map would build on the Otero Canyon
Trails map, US Forest Service data and input
received during the current Master Plan process. The
map would provide invaluable information about
existing trails and potential destinations in the trail
system. The map would be updated every couple
years to account for new additions to the plan.
7. Collaborate Actively with US
Forest Service and other Open
Space Agencies
The County should collaborate with the US Forest
Service in its future effort management plans
affecting the East Mountains. As part of this effort,
the County should also continue to collaborate with
the City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation
Department and the State Land Office in the
development of their management plans.
8. Develop Capacity for Long
Term Management of Trails and
Bikeways System
The County should undertake the capacity-building
necessary to manage the growing trail system. This
would include increased staffing for both the Parks
and Recreation Department and the Public Works
Department, as well as needed equipment, such as
sweepers for paved trails.
9. Modify Ordinances to be
Consistent with Long-Term Goals of
the Master Plan
The County should undertake modifications to County
Ordinances, such as the Off-Road Motorized Vehicle
use and zoning overlays to conform to current goals
and future practices pursuant to this plan.
10. Designate Shared Rural Roads
As Trail Facilities
It is recommended that Bernalillo County adopt roads
indicated in the Trails and Bikeways Master Plan as
Shared Rural Road Trail Facilities. Where these
facilities are currently unpaved and are fully functional
as unpaved trails, they are to be considered existing
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EAST MOUNTAIN TRAILS AND BIKEWAYS MASTER PLAN