HomeMy WebLinkAboutInformational Item - Hopalong Cassidy Trail,\./ I 0 3
CITY OF PALM DESERT
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: Hopalong Trail Construction Schedule and CEQA Process
SUBMITTED BY: Phil Drell, Director of Community Development
DATE: October 13, 2005
CONTENTS:
Discussion
Trail Map
Discussion:
For many years the wildlife agencies have wanted to reroute the beginning of
the Art Smith Trail which currently heads up the bottom of Dead Indian Canyon
so that trail users do not disturb lambing activity on the south side of the
canyon. Instead, they want the trail to immediately climb over the north canyon
wall to get hikers out of the sheep' view as soon as possible. This route would
also be the southern end of the Hopalong Trail.
Since the wildlife agencies are quite anxious to construct this reroute before the
next lambing season in January, they have agreed to let us initiate construction
of the entire Hopalong Trail prior to approval of the MSHCP Trail Plan. While
BLM is processing the NEPA documents for Federal lands, the City still needs
to complete the CEQA process, prepare an initial study and approve a Mitigated
Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact. We had initially hoped to
complete the Environmental Assessment (EA) in time for a special City Council
meeting on October 31. Unfortunately, delays in completion of the Cultural
Resources section of the EA will require that date to be pushed back to the
week of November 14.
The goal is to immediately begin construction upon approval of the Negative
Declaration and complete the first leg from Dead Indian Canyon around Bighorn
to Cat Canyon by January 15. Between January 15 and June 30, construction
would shift to the northwest corner of Cahuilla Hills and proceed east and north
around Stone Eagle connecting to the existing Hopalong Trail at Homme Park.
ACM for Development Services
Staff Report
Hopalong Trail Construction Schedule and CEQA Process
Page 2
October 13, 2005
The next stage would involve the upper and lower connections from the Herb
Jefferies Spur to the Bump and Grind in Rancho Mirage. Depending on how
discussions with the wildlife agencies go concerning trail construction during
lambing season, we will return to Cat Canyon (which is owned by California
Fish and Game) and complete the Zink to Stone Eagle. This link might be delayed
until Fall 2006.
Submitted by:
Director of Community Development
Approval:
y,,,_
proval:
Homer Croy Carlos L. • ega
City Manager
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