Coast Dairies Public Scoping Meetings Recap
July 22, 2019
Photos by Jay Melena
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is making great progress in the public planning process for public access to the Cotoni-Coast Diaries National Monument (CCDNM). We are currently in the Public Scoping Period, during which the BLM is gathering public input on what people are concerned about, what kind of access we want, and why this is important. On Wednesday, July 17, and Thursday, July 18, the BLM held two Public Scoping Meetings in Santa Cruz and Davenport, respectively. Each meeting started with an open house format where attendees could view maps and have casual conversation with BLM staff. After 30-minutes of mingling, we all sat down for three quick presentations from BLM staff before a 60-minute "listening session," where participants were invited to make public comments.
The first to present was the BLM Central Coast Field Manager, Ben Blom. Ben provided more details about the BLM and gave a great overview of the CCDNM property. We learned that the BLM is focused on sustaining the health and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. They have a priority focus on public access, recreation, and conservation. It was interesting to hear that the BLM actually manages 10% of the land in the USA!
The BLM has managed the CCDNM property since 2014. Until the mid-1700s, this was Costanoan/Ohlone land. From the mid-1700s to mid-1800s it was held under Spanish and Mexican land grants. Sometime in the early 1900s, it fell under the ownership of Coast Dairies and Land Company and the Portland Cement Company. In 1998 it was acquired by the Trust for Public Land, and then donated to the BLM in 2014. At the very end of the Obama administration in 2017, it was made a National Monument through Presidential Proclamation 9563.
A key thing to note about the Presidential Proclamation is that the language within it states that the property “shall become available for public access upon completion of a management plan.” It’s that public access that’s at the center of this BLM management plan planning process. As Ben stated, the planning process is intended to figure out how to "get people on the property while still being good neighbors and protecting resources."
The next person to speak was Sky Murphy, BLM Planning & Environmental Coordinator. Sky gave an overview of the BLM's public planning process. We are currently in the 30-Day Public Scoping Period, which lasts through August 2. This will guide the BLM's development of the draft management plan, which will be made available for a 30-day Public Comment Period. The BLM will take those comments into consideration to create the final management plan, which will be released for a 30-Day Public Protest Period. (Note that you can only participate in the Protest Period if you have also participated in the Scoping Period and/or Comment Period. That's why it is so important to get involved NOW!) The BLM will respond to any protests, and then finally an approved plan will be published. At the meetings we learned that the BLM is planning to have an approved plan published by July 2020.
The last speaker before the listening session was Mike Powers, BLM Natural Resource Specialist. Mike summarized what was learned at the public workshops that were held in December 2018. MBOSC attended those workshops, and you can read our overview here. The comments heard at the public workshops included providing public access while minimizes environmental impacts; developing a multi-use trail network with regional trail connectivity; concerns regarding traffic, trash, and trauma; providing access for all income levels and physical abilities; and engaging a variety of partners to support public access management.
After the three BLM presentations, it was time for public comments. Nearly 30 people spoke at each meeting, and while there were a lot of differing opinions, the overall tone was very respectful and considerate. The graphic below provides an overview of public comments heard at the two meetings:
We were very happy to see so many familiar faces at the BLM Public Scoping Meetings for public access to the CCDNM. Thank you to everybody who made time to attend these meetings and speak-up for trail access. You each shared important, thoughtful comments and represented us as a user group in the best possible way!
One of the most thoughtful and memorable comments came from our very own Emma Ussat. Emma spoke on the importance of compromise and collaboration, and her comment is copied below because it should guide how we all view this project:
Hi! My name is Emma and I am a Bonny Doon resident, and the Community Outreach Manager at Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz. First I want to thank BLM staff, Sempervirens Fund, and the Amah Mutsun Land Trust for all they have done for Cotoni-Coast Dairies so far.
I feel so lucky and blessed to be here for a lot of reasons, but I’m going to name a few.
First, I feel so lucky we are having a public process, as this land was previously planned to be developed.
Second, I’ve recently been to several BLM properties, including the Paradise Royal trail system in Shelter Cove, and I was very impressed with their modern trail system techniques. The BLM is on the cutting edge for developing best practices for trail management.
So-- we are not developing the land, and we have a land manager at the forefront of sustainable trail design. Which means we can restore and protect cultural and archaeological sites, ecological resources, and also plan and develop the first sustainable trail system in Santa Cruz County from scratch.
Given this, I would hope that we, as the public, with a diverse range of values, can support the BLM in managing the property by taking on an attitude of consideration, compromise, and collaboration.
Consideration for those we may not agree with.
Compromise in developing a plan that may not fully embody our visions for the property, but one that responsibly balances competing needs.
Collaboration in working with the BLM and each other to create a National Monument that we can all be proud of.
BLM Presentations
The first to present was the BLM Central Coast Field Manager, Ben Blom. Ben provided more details about the BLM and gave a great overview of the CCDNM property. We learned that the BLM is focused on sustaining the health and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. They have a priority focus on public access, recreation, and conservation. It was interesting to hear that the BLM actually manages 10% of the land in the USA!
The BLM has managed the CCDNM property since 2014. Until the mid-1700s, this was Costanoan/Ohlone land. From the mid-1700s to mid-1800s it was held under Spanish and Mexican land grants. Sometime in the early 1900s, it fell under the ownership of Coast Dairies and Land Company and the Portland Cement Company. In 1998 it was acquired by the Trust for Public Land, and then donated to the BLM in 2014. At the very end of the Obama administration in 2017, it was made a National Monument through Presidential Proclamation 9563.
A key thing to note about the Presidential Proclamation is that the language within it states that the property “shall become available for public access upon completion of a management plan.” It’s that public access that’s at the center of this BLM management plan planning process. As Ben stated, the planning process is intended to figure out how to "get people on the property while still being good neighbors and protecting resources."
The next person to speak was Sky Murphy, BLM Planning & Environmental Coordinator. Sky gave an overview of the BLM's public planning process. We are currently in the 30-Day Public Scoping Period, which lasts through August 2. This will guide the BLM's development of the draft management plan, which will be made available for a 30-day Public Comment Period. The BLM will take those comments into consideration to create the final management plan, which will be released for a 30-Day Public Protest Period. (Note that you can only participate in the Protest Period if you have also participated in the Scoping Period and/or Comment Period. That's why it is so important to get involved NOW!) The BLM will respond to any protests, and then finally an approved plan will be published. At the meetings we learned that the BLM is planning to have an approved plan published by July 2020.
The last speaker before the listening session was Mike Powers, BLM Natural Resource Specialist. Mike summarized what was learned at the public workshops that were held in December 2018. MBOSC attended those workshops, and you can read our overview here. The comments heard at the public workshops included providing public access while minimizes environmental impacts; developing a multi-use trail network with regional trail connectivity; concerns regarding traffic, trash, and trauma; providing access for all income levels and physical abilities; and engaging a variety of partners to support public access management.
Listening Session
After the three BLM presentations, it was time for public comments. Nearly 30 people spoke at each meeting, and while there were a lot of differing opinions, the overall tone was very respectful and considerate. The graphic below provides an overview of public comments heard at the two meetings:
We were very happy to see so many familiar faces at the BLM Public Scoping Meetings for public access to the CCDNM. Thank you to everybody who made time to attend these meetings and speak-up for trail access. You each shared important, thoughtful comments and represented us as a user group in the best possible way!
One of the most thoughtful and memorable comments came from our very own Emma Ussat. Emma spoke on the importance of compromise and collaboration, and her comment is copied below because it should guide how we all view this project:
Hi! My name is Emma and I am a Bonny Doon resident, and the Community Outreach Manager at Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz. First I want to thank BLM staff, Sempervirens Fund, and the Amah Mutsun Land Trust for all they have done for Cotoni-Coast Dairies so far.
I feel so lucky and blessed to be here for a lot of reasons, but I’m going to name a few.
First, I feel so lucky we are having a public process, as this land was previously planned to be developed.
Second, I’ve recently been to several BLM properties, including the Paradise Royal trail system in Shelter Cove, and I was very impressed with their modern trail system techniques. The BLM is on the cutting edge for developing best practices for trail management.
So-- we are not developing the land, and we have a land manager at the forefront of sustainable trail design. Which means we can restore and protect cultural and archaeological sites, ecological resources, and also plan and develop the first sustainable trail system in Santa Cruz County from scratch.
Given this, I would hope that we, as the public, with a diverse range of values, can support the BLM in managing the property by taking on an attitude of consideration, compromise, and collaboration.
Consideration for those we may not agree with.
Compromise in developing a plan that may not fully embody our visions for the property, but one that responsibly balances competing needs.
Collaboration in working with the BLM and each other to create a National Monument that we can all be proud of.
Add Your Voice!
If you were unable to attend one of the public meetings, please submit a written comment requesting trail access using the MBOSC talking points. Written comments will be accepted from June 24 through August 2. It is always more impactful to write your own letter, but if you are short on time, you can download the MBOSC sample letter by clicking here. Just fill it out, save or print it, then email, fax, or mail it to the contact info provided below: Submit written comments by: Email: [email protected] Fax: 831-582-2266 Mail: BLM Central Coast Field Office Attn: Cotoni-Coast Dairies RMPA/EA 940 2nd Avenue Marina, CA 93933-6009
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