Region 6 Designation

The Marin County Open Space District (MCOSD) Board of Directors approved the Road and Trail Management Plan (RTMP) and certified the associated program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) on December 16, 2014. The RTMP divided the MCOSD’s 34 open space preserves into six regions and provided a process for the public to participate in decision-making regarding the designation of existing roads and trails and for the public to propose projects for each region. This memorandum summarizes the road and trail designation process for the final region of this process; Region 6, which consists of the Bolinas Lagoon, Bothin Marsh, Old Saint Hilary’s, Tiburon Ridge and Ring Mountain open space preserves.

• Proposed Conditional Designation for Region 6 Memorandum pdf

Old St. Hilary's

Ring Mountain

Tiburon Ridge

The purpose of the Region 6 proposed Conditional Trail Designation Map is to provide a planning document to help guide MCOSD staff efforts to implement the RTMP and future project development within Region 6 in order to improve the road and trail network. To develop the proposed Conditional Designation Map, MCOSD assessed the existing roads and trails within Region 6 and then recommended which to propose for conditional designation as part of the trail system (“system trails”). The process involved extensive site visits and meetings with stakeholders and MCOSD staff, including a public meeting on November 17, 2021.

The three maps which comprise the proposed Conditional Trail Designation Map are featured above, and each focus on a single preserve. Bolinas Lagoon and Bothin Marsh preserves are largely tidal influenced marsh land; therefore, no trails were identified as designated trails in these preserves as part of the Region 6 designation process. 

The proposed Conditional Trail Designation Map includes the following:

• The continued designation of current system trails are shown in black, and the fire roads are shown in white. These existing roads and trails are those currently signed and maintained by the MCOSD. Designated use categories continue to be hiking only trails and multiuse roads (hike, bike, horse). 
• Provisional designations for proposed system trail adoptions, shown in purple. These trails are subject to future resource studies and planning processes prior to official designation.
• Trails not proposed for adoption as part of the system trail network, shown in red. These trails will be considered for decommissioning, consistent with RTMP policies, and subject to additional evaluation and planning processes.  

MCOSD staff hosted a public meeting on Wednesday, November 17th, 2021. At this meeting, MCOSD staff presented information on the goals of the planning process, the draft proposed conditional Trail Designation Maps for Region 6, including Ring Mountain., Old St. Hilary’s and Tiburon Ridge Open Space Preserves, and directed the audience to the Region 6 webpage to solicit comments. The webpage included downloadable maps, a list of FAQs, the Zoom recording of the public meeting and comment forms. These materials were available online for the duration of the two-month public comment period, November 18th – January 18th. Forty-four members of the public attended the live meeting and during the public comment period 66 comments were received from the community.

• November 17 Zoom Community Workshop Video

The most commented aspects on Region 6 Draft Trail Designation Maps are summarized below.

• Support for the proposed trail adoptions at Ring Mountain, Old St. Hilary’s, and Tiburon Ridge Open Space Preserves
• Concern that trails 221 and 311 at Ring Mountain Preserve are not being proposed for adoption, commenters expressed support that these trails should be proposed for adoption and designation 
• Support to realign the Phyllis Ellman and Loop Trails at Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve, as recommended 
• Concern about the proposed designation of trail 206 at Old St. Hilary Open Space Preserve, commenters propose trail 206 not be proposed for adoption
• Concern that not enough non-system trails are not proposed for adoption 
• Support for recommending that some non-system trails are not designated as system trails, and thereby reducing habitat fragmentation 
• Support to propose trail adoptions with a priority goal of protecting sensitive natural resources
• Support for recommending adopting and designating trails which would allow for legal dog walking
• Concern that proposing to adopt some trails may create new trailheads and have potential to cause neighborhood issues 

Based on the comments received, the MCOSD has modified the Ring Mountain and Old St. Hilary’s proposed Conditional Trail Designation Map with the following

• Trail 221 and half of trail 311 has been changed to; proposed for adoption on the Ring Mountain Trail Designation Map
• Trail 206 has been changed to “not proposed for adoption” on the Old St. Hilary’s Trail Designation Map

MCOSD will develop a planning process that includes prioritizing the trail adoptions around the summit of Ring Mountain for improvements and official designation. Planning for all future projects will include a detailed evaluation of the proposed conditional trail designations, including resource studies, preparation of environmental documents pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, and public involvement. For more information contact: Jon Campo, Principal Natural Resources Planner, (415) 473-2686.

Proposed road and trail project list:

• Public Proposals List pdf

The public may participate in identifying potential road and trail projects. New project proposals must be submitted on this form:

• Road and Trail Management Plan Project Proposal Form pdf

Individuals, organizations, trail user groups, and others interested in submitting a proposal should read the Road and Trail Management Plan (RTMP):

• Road and Trail Management Plan pdf

Road and trail projects proposed by the public are screened and evaluated based on these primary objectives of the RTMP:

• Reduce the environmental impacts associated with the road and trail network.
• Enhance visitor experience and safety for all users.
• Establish and maintain a sustainable system of roads and trails.

Decision making is conducted in a transparent and collaborative manner, subject to the laws, policies, and goals outlined in the RTMP. RTMP chapter 5 describes the decision-making process the MCOSD uses to determine designation, management, and maintenance of the road and trail system.

In general, Parks staff review all public proposals for completeness. When a proposal is complete it then becomes part of the annual progressive screening and evaluation of all road and trail projects. The highest priority road and trail projects that emerge must then complete for approval and funding in the MCOSD and Measure A budget development processes for the coming fiscal year.