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ENLARGE
John Gardiner
Just south of Empire Mine State Historic Park, there is a network of trails and undeveloped space popular with equestrians, hikers and mountain bikers. Osborne Hill (not to be confused with the area inside the park with same name) has become an informal adjunct part of the park over the course of decades.
Residents who want to walk a dog, get some fresh air or find peaceful solitude wander over Osborne Hill every day. The Union Hill School mountain bike team uses this area for practice rides. Now this important community asset is under serious threat.
The California Department of Forestry (CDF) is considering an application for a plan that would result in a massive logging operation on this open space. Trees would be leveled, new dirt roads would be plowed, and existing trails would be obliterated.
You probably have not heard of this plan, because the proponent has quietly submitted an obscure, jargon-filled timber harvest plan that was only distributed to immediate neighbors recently. But a close look at the plan reveals the devastation that would result from this operation.
To see a map that shows the location and approximate dimensions of Osborne Hill and the planned logging, go to tinyurl.com/2vdlec.
For starters, this timber harvest plan makes no accommodation whatsoever for preserving existing trails on Osborne Hill. Mechanized equipment would be free to dig new roads, tear out trees and ignore the trailbeds that are so important to the community.
Residents who want to walk a dog, get some fresh air or find peaceful solitude wander over Osborne Hill every day. The Union Hill School mountain bike team uses this area for practice rides. Now this important community asset is under serious threat.
The California Department of Forestry (CDF) is considering an application for a plan that would result in a massive logging operation on this open space. Trees would be leveled, new dirt roads would be plowed, and existing trails would be obliterated.
You probably have not heard of this plan, because the proponent has quietly submitted an obscure, jargon-filled timber harvest plan that was only distributed to immediate neighbors recently. But a close look at the plan reveals the devastation that would result from this operation.
To see a map that shows the location and approximate dimensions of Osborne Hill and the planned logging, go to tinyurl.com/2vdlec.
For starters, this timber harvest plan makes no accommodation whatsoever for preserving existing trails on Osborne Hill. Mechanized equipment would be free to dig new roads, tear out trees and ignore the trailbeds that are so important to the community.
Neighbors lose out as well, as neighboring woods are stripped and replaced by an ugly, scarred hillside that is certain to damage property values.
Wildlife corridors and habitat continuing in and out of the Empire Mine would be disrupted. And we all lose yet another important piece of green open space close to town.
Osborne Hill has been subjected to historical mining operations. If you explore this area, you can see remnants of mining equipment and structures.
Like the State Park, it has soil contaminants. But the logging plan proponent has not completed necessary environmental paperwork that would describe exactly what contaminants would be released as a result of heavy mechanized equipment usage during logging.
Runoff from Osborne Hill forms the beginning of Little Wolf Creek, and the community knows how much controversy was caused by contaminants in this waterway in recent years.
The threat to Osborne Hill is twofold. The immediate threat is from an ill-conceived and thoughtless logging plan that would devastate the area all too soon.
Wildlife corridors and habitat continuing in and out of the Empire Mine would be disrupted. And we all lose yet another important piece of green open space close to town.
Osborne Hill has been subjected to historical mining operations. If you explore this area, you can see remnants of mining equipment and structures.
Like the State Park, it has soil contaminants. But the logging plan proponent has not completed necessary environmental paperwork that would describe exactly what contaminants would be released as a result of heavy mechanized equipment usage during logging.
Runoff from Osborne Hill forms the beginning of Little Wolf Creek, and the community knows how much controversy was caused by contaminants in this waterway in recent years.
The threat to Osborne Hill is twofold. The immediate threat is from an ill-conceived and thoughtless logging plan that would devastate the area all too soon.
Later, the property is slated for a high end, highly dense development that puts unreasonable strains on local roads, traffic and wildlife habitat.
This development has not been approved by the County and hopefully never will be. Yet this timber harvest is planned in preparation for a development that may never happen.
Does all this sound crazy? I think so, but it does not have to become reality. Osborne Hill can enjoy a different fate, and all it takes is for citizens like yourself to speak out and step up.
The property owner has expressed interest in selling the parcel to State Parks for annexation into Empire Mine. State Parks also is interested in the plan. Our Board of Supervisors has passed a motion in support of this park acquisition.
This is precisely what should happen. Osborne Hill is a perfect fit to Empire Mine. It shares a border with the park and would increase the size of this beautiful, but small park by about one third.
Annexation would mean that that Osborne Hill would be preserved in perpetuity. Trails would be maintained and improved. Wildlife habitat would be protected.
This development has not been approved by the County and hopefully never will be. Yet this timber harvest is planned in preparation for a development that may never happen.
Does all this sound crazy? I think so, but it does not have to become reality. Osborne Hill can enjoy a different fate, and all it takes is for citizens like yourself to speak out and step up.
The property owner has expressed interest in selling the parcel to State Parks for annexation into Empire Mine. State Parks also is interested in the plan. Our Board of Supervisors has passed a motion in support of this park acquisition.
This is precisely what should happen. Osborne Hill is a perfect fit to Empire Mine. It shares a border with the park and would increase the size of this beautiful, but small park by about one third.
Annexation would mean that that Osborne Hill would be preserved in perpetuity. Trails would be maintained and improved. Wildlife habitat would be protected.
The community would gain permanent access to additional open space for low impact recreation. Those who are concerned with property rights should know that the parcel owner would receive fair market value for this sale.
This is what the community needs. We do not need another high-priced leapfrog development that is out of reach for the vast majority of Nevada County families.
Cities such as Sacramento are paying money to plant trees close to town, so why should we even consider a logging operation a few short miles from downtown Grass Valley?
Some California cities are banning fast-food restaurants because of childhood obesity, so why wouldn't we preserve and protect a trail system and recreational opportunity so close to town?
Please visit the following Web site to learn how you can expand Empire Mine State Historic Park: www.bonc.org/osborne.html.
ooo
John Gardiner lives in Grass Valley and is an IMBA California State Representative.
This is what the community needs. We do not need another high-priced leapfrog development that is out of reach for the vast majority of Nevada County families.
Cities such as Sacramento are paying money to plant trees close to town, so why should we even consider a logging operation a few short miles from downtown Grass Valley?
Some California cities are banning fast-food restaurants because of childhood obesity, so why wouldn't we preserve and protect a trail system and recreational opportunity so close to town?
Please visit the following Web site to learn how you can expand Empire Mine State Historic Park: www.bonc.org/osborne.html.
ooo
John Gardiner lives in Grass Valley and is an IMBA California State Representative.
