The East Bay Municipal Water District (EBMUD) manages a number of watersheds that feed key sources of drinking-water storage. EBMUD is currently reviewing and updating its Watershed Master Plan, a process it is required to undergo every 20 years. There are a number of critical issues the District will need to address in this review, including climate change, habitat conservation, water quality, and fire prevention. In addition to these issues, EBMUD is looking at recreation on its watershed lands.
Currently, mountain bikes are only allowed on specific paved areas where erosion and other disturbances are not a threat to water and biological resources. Now, at the urging of mountain-biking advocates, EBMUD is considering opening up more of its sensitive watershed lands to mountain bikes.
EBMUD is considering allowing mountain bikes on four trail segments totaling about 10 miles of the Bay Ridge Trail that are now accessible only to hikers and equestrians who purchase trail permits. Two of the four trail segments are mostly double-track fire roads. Two would be steep, narrow, single-track trails popular with hikers. The single-track trails are along segments of watershed land that are home to rare plant species and provide habitat for the threatened Alameda whipsnake.
Mountain biking can lead to erosion and can disturb wildlife and rare plant species. In addition, allowing mountain bikes on narrow, single-track trails will increase the risk of collisions with hikers, birders, joggers, and equestrians. Mountain bikers already have access to over 1,000 miles of trails in adjacent East Bay Regional Park District lands.
For decades, the current policy on mountain bikes in EBMUD watershed lands has successfully protected water quality and biodiversity. In this time of drought, EBMUD should prioritize the protection of our water resources above all else.
WhatYouCanDo
You can use the form on this page to send a message to EBMUD board members asking them to oppose mountain bikes on single-track trails on our watershed lands.