Support for Hole-in-the-Ground Parcel Acquisition

BONC has issued the following letter of support for the Trust for Public Land's effort to acquire parcels on which Hole-in-the-Ground trail is located.

The TPL hopes to use a federal program to purchase parcels on which the Hole-in-the-Ground trail is located. Should they be successful, a large portion of the trail which is now fireroad could be converted to singletrack. Access to the trail would also become more permanent. The TPL has asked for letters of support for this program.

"The Honorable Diane Feinstein

United States Senate

Washington DC 20510

Dear Senator Feinstein:

I am writing in support of funding for the U.S. Forest Service program of checkerboard consolidation in the Sierra Nevada mountains. After a national ranking process, the FY 2012 President's Budget request recommended $2 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the Sierra Nevada inholdings protection effort.

National forest lands entirely or substantially surround these checkerboard lands, and consolidation of these properties will give the Forest Service an improved ability to manage its lands for recreation. The inholdings feature significant trail resources. One tract is critical to accessing and improving the Hole-in-the-Ground-Trail a trail popular with mountain bikers.

For this reason, we support acquisition of this land (sec 3 and part of 9 of Township 17 North, Range 14 East).

Your strong support for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has been crucial to great conservation achievements in California and across the country. Your continued leadership on behalf of LWCF as Congress completes the FY 2011 budget and begins the FY 2012 process will help ensure that this project will receive the necessary funds.

Thank you for your support of protecting California's exceptional recreational resources.

Truly,

John Gardiner

Chair, Bicyclists of Nevada County"