PETITION FOR NO RIVER PLANS WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT!

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Author: Purdon Crossing

Started: September 3, 2008, 7:37:13 pm

Target: Any Purdon Crossing Visitors

Category: Government & Politics

Supporters:

Goal:

100,000

Goal Progress:

Status

Active

History and Background:

During the last year, Supervisor Beason met with private property owners in the Purdon Crossing area, with BLM and SYR State Park to discuss issues there, primarily illegal campfires. Because both BLM and State Park are not able to patrol the river to ticket those with illegal fires, a clever plan was made to prevent people from camping altogether, which IS legal. Instead of punishing those that make illegal fires, they decided they would punish those who park overnight at the river.

The county sheriff and State Park peace officers have been ticketing cars parked overnight in the State Park parking lot and also along Purdon Road near the bridge. These cars belong to campers who just want to sleep on the beach in a very special place, the vast majority of whom love the river and have deep respect for it AND HAVE NEVER HAD A FIRE. It is difficult now to camp at Purdon Crossing, which is the very last place on the river between Englebright and Spaulding that has reasonable access--all other access is either closed to camping or is unsuitable for young children and older people who have trouble walking.

The private property owners have a legitimate concern that is in fact shared by the river users. Fires are dangerous along the river! It is also a fact that the SYR management plan calls for ALL fires to be banned within the corridor. This plan, which took 2 years to craft was the combined effort of river users, property owners, State Park, BLM, USFS, county planning department, and many others. It studied the river's issues and determined specific remedies for the very problems that Supervisor Beason is trying to solve. The plan was signed and accepted by all agencies. But many of the actions in the plan for Purdon Crossing remain unimplemented.

Supervisor Beason, BLM, and the State Park met privately with the property owners to determine their plan. The decision to close parking at Purdon overnight has disenfranchised those who are most affected by the decision. THE RIVER USERS HAD NO SAY AT ALL!

THIS IS WRONG AND MUST BE CORRECTED.

We the undersigned therefore cannot petition more strongly that...

1. ...the overnight parking restrictions at Purdon Crossing must be reconsidered so that responsible and law-abiding citizens can again enjoy reasonable access to legal camping on BLM and private land.

2. ...Public Meetings be held with stakeholders at Purdon Crossing to determine solutions to the issues there, which includes the very real danger caused by illegal fires made by a few irresponsible people.

3. ...all restrictions that limit access to the South Yuba River must be constrained by the Public Trust Doctrine, which protects the right of access to all lands along the river for the purpose of recreation. Restrictions must enhance the value of the river to those who use it. Management decisions must focus on restricting only activities that actually are destructive, and must be the least restrictive of alternatives.

4. ...the South Yuba River Comprehensive Management Plan must be used faithfully to guide management planning and decisions about Purdon Crossing and elsewhere in the river corridor. Where the Plan is lacking in specific direction, its intent is clearly stated in its Vision Statement.

5. ...as called for in the South Yuba River Comprehensive Management Plan, the county government, BLM, State Park, and the USFS each shall develop a partnership with other agencies, landowners, businesses, community, and river users in which an ongoing process that includes public participation through public input is used to develop plans for the South Yuba River. The Public's interest must be determined and given serious consideration before plans can be finalized and implemented.