Re: RE: American River Ride

["Kirsten Price" <splash@dakotacom.net>]

I too was REALLY pleased to see this!  Whatever happened at the ride, this
is a MAJOR first step in coming to a positive, mutually satisfactory
resolution.  After all, we want the ride to continue don't we?

Kirsten

----- Original Message -----
From: Steph Teeter <steph@endurance.net>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2000 7:01 AM
Subject: RC: RE: American River Ride


> Ridecampers - I hope you all realize what an incredible thing
> this post is. Issues aside - this is *communication* ! A government
> official has used this forum to talk to us and explain the
> situation from the gov't's perspective. And I'm sure this person
> and/or his staff has read the opinions of the riders that
> attended the ride. I'm still constantly amazed by the power -
> and depth - of the internet.
>
> Steph
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: guest@endurance.net [mailto:guest@endurance.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2000 5:20 PM
> To: ridecamp@endurance.net
> Subject: RC: American River Ride
>
>
> Robert Williamson rwill@parks.ca.gov
> I am writing this message in response to information that is being
> circulated about the American River Ride, held this last weekend.  For
many
> years California State Parks has had regulations governing the actions of
> people who camp overnight.  One of the regulations restricts camping to
> areas that are designated for that purpose, specifically, campgrounds.
The
> California Code of Regulations allows certain restricted one-night camping
> in some day use areas, subject to restrictions placed by the Department.
> One of those restrictions is that such camping must be in a self-contained
> vehicle.
>
> Some of you have said that the intent is to eliminate equestrian events.
> There is no truth to that feeling.  We have spent countless years fighting
> major battles to preserve riding opportunity in this area and to protect
the
> safety of equestrians who come to our park.  I started riding horses when
I
> was five years old and still ride whenever I can.  It is a sport that is
> also enjoyed by many other members of our staff.  There are options that
can
> be planned, but those options must be presented in a timely manner, and
with
> due consideration to a long-term plan that is in the best interests of all
> concerned.  Those options can not be done at the last minute, since the
> participants must be given adequate time to plan.  We can not force
someone
> to discuss alternatives that would be workable, if they continually refuse
> to talk.
>
> Since 1995 we have been working with the organizers of the American River
> Ride to get them to comply with department policy on this subject.  We
have
> had no cooperation from the organizers of this event, despite repeated
> requests.  Our requests started out as friendly, but have escalated to the
> point where the very future of the event is in jeopardy.  The event
> organizers were told before last year's event that they must address this
> issue or enforcement action would take place.  They, once again, ignored
our
> concerns.  The organizers were told well before this year's event that
> another repetition would result in enforcement action being taken against
> those people that were in violation of the requirements.  Again, there was
> no attempt to inform the participants or to make alternative arrangements.
> If the officers who contacted the participants seemed overzealous in their
> actions I am certain that it was due, in part, to having dealt with this
> issue continually over the past !
> six years.
>
> Our department's intent is not to discriminate against those people who
> chose to not drive recreational vehicles, but to try to offer
opportunities
> for quality recreational experiences, and balance that with our mandate to
> preserve its natural resources.  When an event organizer continually
refuses
> to take appropriate steps to follow permit conditions then we are left
with
> no alternative.  The bottom line is that event organizers must work with
the
> department staff to plan event.  Refusing to make appropriate plans
results
> in anger and frustration for both the participants and the park staff.
This
> anger should be directed where it belongs, with the event organizers.
>
> When planning future events it is extremely important that the event
> organizers work closely with the park staff, rather than trying to force
an
> idea without discussion.  They would find that we are surprisingly easy to
> work with and would be, no doubt, pleased with the outcome, as would the
> event participants.
>
> Robert Williamson
> Supervising Ranger
> American River District
>
>
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