SFPUC 2001 Alameda Watershed Management Plan

XII. SUMMARY OF COMMMENTS AND RESPONSESB. SUMMARY OF COMMENTS AND RESPONSESG. ACCESS/TRANSPORTATION1.0 CLARIFICATION OF ACCESS PROPOSED IN THE MANAGEMENTPLANComment G-1: “The District’s 1997 Master Plan includes two regional trails that are affected bySFPUC’s Plan and EIR. The Sunol to Pleasanton Ridge and the Niles Canyon Regional Trailsare key components in the District’s efforts to link major regional parks together as well asproviding connections between southern and central Alameda County. The Plan as presenteddoes not address these trails, and the types of uses currently permitted on other regional trailswhich traverse SFPUC lands, with the detail necessary to provide direction for their futureplanning and implementation. In addition, the Plan lists the implementation program for theSunol to Pleasanton Ridge Trail as Phase III which could delay its planning and implementationfor up to 20 years. Both these trails should be listed as components of the Phase Iimplementation. The District has substantially completed the acquisition of both SunolWilderness and Pleasanton Ridge, developed public access and desires to link these parklands inthe near term in order to meet the increasing public demand for these types of recreationalfacilities. With the extensive planning for the property adjacent to the Water Temple and theplanning for mining between 680 and Sunol Wilderness, planning for the regional trail needs toparallel these efforts.During the past four years, the District has pointed out the need to link the trail betweenPleasanton Ridge and Sunol with the Ohlone Wilderness Trail. Alternatives for alignments in thePlan (briefly cited in Action sun 14 item E) should include both the valley floor as well as analignment through the hill range to the west of Calaveras Road. This would allow a more directconnection into the Ohlone Wilderness Trail and avoids the planned mining area and watertreatment plant. This should also be included in policy WA 15.2. To the north of I-680, the trailwill need to utilize the under crossing of I-680 adjacent to SFPUC lands and transition to theWater Temple area with an ultimate connection to Niles Canyon Trail and Pleasanton Ridge.This should be cited in the Action sun 14 section with more detail.Current uses of the Ohlone Wilderness Trail include hiking and equestrian travel with overnightcamping. Within some of the lease areas the District has with SFPUC in Sunol proper, mountainbiking is also allowed. It should be noted that in the development of the Sunol to PleasantonRidge Trail, the District would want to continue managing the trail as a multi-use facility wherefeasible. This would be consistent with existing trail use patterns we now manage on SFPUClands. This should be better defined in Policy WA 15.3 and 15.4.The regional trail planned for Niles Canyon will require cooperative planning between theDistrict and SFPUC. Management issues as well as alignment considerations will require closecoordination between our agencies. There is limited reference to the disposition of these SFPUCproperties in the canyon, long-term planning issues, possible uses and management strategies.”(East Bay Regional Parks District)NOP 96.223E: Alameda Watershed Management Plan C&R.35 ESA / 930385