Monday, September 30, 2019
Wolf Creek Trail
1 October 2019
Check out the new Wolf Creek Trail!
On a recent morning Sally and I took a stroll on the new trail. It begins from the parking lot of the Mining Museum on Allison Ranch Road. You descend on freshly laid black-top, do a zig, a zag, a loop, and head downstream through Glenn Jones Park. The first thing you see is an unobstructed view of Wolf Creek gushing merrily out from the culvert under Hwy 20. You head through the park close to the creek and directly across from the museum, which is definitely worth a look.
Proceeding downstream you quickly come to the wastewater treatment plant, blocked by a chain link fence. This used to be the end of the line. From here the trail veers left up a slope along the perimeter of the plant and behind GV Animal Control. When you emerge at the entrance to the plant just walk to the right and continue downstream along the fence. Once past the plant there is an upper and lower option, as well as the chance to venture along a dirt trail at the water’s edge. It is down that dirt track where students from Grass Valley Charter School continue to act as trail stewards, and assist the Wolf Creek Community Alliance (WCCA) in regular monitoring of the quality and quantity of the water. The dirt path ends at the confluence with Little Wolf Creek which comes down from Empire Mine State Park. This is a lovely spot and could eventually be developed into a picnic area.
The main trail turns upslope again and emerges from the mixed conifer and hardwood forest at the infamous sinkhole. A spur switchbacks up to Freeman Lane and the main trail continues downstream. Soon one is right above the creek in a steep heavily wooded area. Almost imperceptibly at first, the sound of the creek grows louder and louder and soon commands your attention. Stop for a moment. You are now in the deepest part of the Wolf Creek canyon and will remain so the rest of the way. We mused about starting in a park, followed by an urban area with accompanying sights, sounds, and smells - and had now entered a place that was surprising wild. We found this to be an intriguing part of the whole experience. Toward the end you pass by a steep stairway up to the Wolf Creek Lodge, and end up on switchbacks leading to River Otter Lane. We returned the same way, about a two mile round trip.
The trail is well engineered, designed for multiple use, and accessible via wheelchair. The eight foot wide blacktop makes the trail an ideal winter walk as you could stay out of the mud! It’s a great place to go with a friend or two, and for dogs on a leash. The trailhead is about 3/4 of a mile from downtown, and easily walkable down the Mill Street sidewalk - which adds another mile and a half to the round trip.
Many thanks to the city, the WCCA, and Bear Yuba Land Trust (BYLT) for making this happen. In a strange twist of fate we must also give a nod to the massive sinkhole that sprang from the overburdened culvert on Little Wolf Creek. That mess led city officials deep into the canyon. They found two things - a beautiful spot remarkably close to town and major homeless encampments. With resolve the city jumped on the opportunity to move forward on the trail that had been talked about for decades. More on the homeless connection to area creeks another time.
So where do we go from here? The city appears to be committed to continuing the trail all the way through downtown and up to the Loma Rica development. There are plans to continue downstream to the Berriman Ranch subdivision. There’s a potential spur up to the North Star House. Expect to read more about each of these possibilities and more in the coming months. Good to be back!
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
16 March 2016
Been awhile so here’s a brief update. Albeit slowly things are just beginning to move forward again, just as spring buds emerge from our wonderfully wet winter!
At the invitation of Keith Davies of the Greater GV Chamber of Commerce, I spoke for five minutes at their most recent board meeting to let them know about the involvement of the BYLT. Executive Director Marty Coleman-Hunt continues to build key relationships with city personnel. She and her staff are preparing for a presentation to the City Council about the Parkway in June. Hopefully I can leverage my meeting with the Chamber into public awareness contacts with other civic groups in the coming months. I was well received and Howard Levine added a few encouraging words to my remarks. Thanks Keith.
Speaking of public awareness, on April 21 and 22 (Earth Day) once again the lower parking lot at the Holiday Inn Express will witness the creek coming into the light of day via the 3rd Annual Wolf Creek Chalk Art Project. As in prior years I am helping to coordinate this project with Jennifer Scott and Alex Ezzell. Participating artists are two fourth grade classes from the Grass Valley Charter School and art students from Bitney College Prep High School. Thanks as always to General Manager Sean Gilleran. Come by and check it out!
Don Pelton is in communication with NCTV about having the 2014 film “A Creek Runs Through It,” available for viewing via their website. And of course it remains available on You Tube.
Key components remain the potential acquisition of the corner lot at Idaho-Maryland and Sutton, and the commencement of the new wastewater treatment plant and connecting trail downstream of Glen Jones Park by Newmont Mine. And of course the BYLT presentation to the Council prepares the way for the first potential action by the City Council since adoption of the Conceptual Plan in 2006. STAY TUNED!
I’ll keep plugging away and will attend the next meeting of the Bear River Watershed Group on the sixth of April. At that meeting stakeholders will create collaborative goals and objectives for the Restoration Plan, based on issues identified in the Disturbance Inventory put together at the last meeting.
bruce
Been awhile so here’s a brief update. Albeit slowly things are just beginning to move forward again, just as spring buds emerge from our wonderfully wet winter!
At the invitation of Keith Davies of the Greater GV Chamber of Commerce, I spoke for five minutes at their most recent board meeting to let them know about the involvement of the BYLT. Executive Director Marty Coleman-Hunt continues to build key relationships with city personnel. She and her staff are preparing for a presentation to the City Council about the Parkway in June. Hopefully I can leverage my meeting with the Chamber into public awareness contacts with other civic groups in the coming months. I was well received and Howard Levine added a few encouraging words to my remarks. Thanks Keith.
Speaking of public awareness, on April 21 and 22 (Earth Day) once again the lower parking lot at the Holiday Inn Express will witness the creek coming into the light of day via the 3rd Annual Wolf Creek Chalk Art Project. As in prior years I am helping to coordinate this project with Jennifer Scott and Alex Ezzell. Participating artists are two fourth grade classes from the Grass Valley Charter School and art students from Bitney College Prep High School. Thanks as always to General Manager Sean Gilleran. Come by and check it out!
Don Pelton is in communication with NCTV about having the 2014 film “A Creek Runs Through It,” available for viewing via their website. And of course it remains available on You Tube.
Key components remain the potential acquisition of the corner lot at Idaho-Maryland and Sutton, and the commencement of the new wastewater treatment plant and connecting trail downstream of Glen Jones Park by Newmont Mine. And of course the BYLT presentation to the Council prepares the way for the first potential action by the City Council since adoption of the Conceptual Plan in 2006. STAY TUNED!
I’ll keep plugging away and will attend the next meeting of the Bear River Watershed Group on the sixth of April. At that meeting stakeholders will create collaborative goals and objectives for the Restoration Plan, based on issues identified in the Disturbance Inventory put together at the last meeting.
bruce
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Stewards Log 9 July 2015
Happy July! And happy developments, incremental as they are. (Who said this was going to happen overnight anyway!) For nearly two years I have been sharing information and updates about the Parkway with Marty Coleman-Hunt, Executive Director of the Bear Yuba Land Trust. As you might expect she is very busy with all the pots she stirs already. Nevertheless, as she learned more about the potential for a trail and pocket parks along Wolf Creek, she took it upon herself to bring some of her board and staff on board, and meet with GV City Councilman Howard Levine and City Manager Bob Richardson.
The city folks have responded in a positive manner and now seem poised to move forward - albeit in slow and deliberate baby steps. Jane, Jonathan, and I met with Marty, Bill Haire, and two board members in May. In June I led Marty, staffer Laura Peterson, and board member Michael Smiley on a walking and driving tour of several key sections of the Conceptual Plan, and possible alternate routes. They in turn showed me the area thru which portions of the Larimer Trail (downstream of the Mining Museum) is poised to be built by Newmont.
The Land Trust people are enthusiastic to help move this project forward - touting it to the city as the beginning stages of a comprehensive trail system with links key areas of town, and additional trails and/or links upstream, down, and in-between. Going forward Marty will be the point person in this effort. At present she is working to get Howard and Bob out on a similar tour of the potential trails. I will continue to work with Marty and her people in whatever capacity I can, as well as continue my efforts to show the film to groups around town. I have a couple of feelers out in that regard.
It is also my pleasure to represent WCCA (and advocate for Wolf Creek) as one of many stakeholders in the Bear Watershed Group. The BWG is charged with coming up with a Restoration Plan for the entirety of the Bear River Watershed. There have been two meetings thus far, with funding funneled through SSI for four more bimonthly gatherings. To date the group has identified key components to a comprehensive disturbance inventory. These will be prioritized at the September meeting, which will result in a monitoring and data collection program, that would in turn drive and provide additional data to help form the restoration plan itself. I’ll let you know how that goes.
I close with a notion recently put forward by Benjamin Hale, Associate Professor of Environmental Philosophy at the University of Colorado. We all understand what trespassing is. As the Parkway comes to light the Land Trust, the WCCA, and the City of Grass Valley agree that no trespass, taking, or disturbance of any parcels of private property will take place without legal agreement from the owners in the form of a trail or conservation easement. That’s a given.
But can it also be construed that roads, fences, parking lots, homes, and businesses that are allowed to exist along the creek without proper setback and bank protection; along with any toxic or illegal discharge or pumping is in effect “trespassing?” Trespassing against all of us and the integrity and possibly legal standing of the creek that is as yet unrecognized as such but is in essence part of the Grass Valley Commons?
bruce
Happy July! And happy developments, incremental as they are. (Who said this was going to happen overnight anyway!) For nearly two years I have been sharing information and updates about the Parkway with Marty Coleman-Hunt, Executive Director of the Bear Yuba Land Trust. As you might expect she is very busy with all the pots she stirs already. Nevertheless, as she learned more about the potential for a trail and pocket parks along Wolf Creek, she took it upon herself to bring some of her board and staff on board, and meet with GV City Councilman Howard Levine and City Manager Bob Richardson.
The city folks have responded in a positive manner and now seem poised to move forward - albeit in slow and deliberate baby steps. Jane, Jonathan, and I met with Marty, Bill Haire, and two board members in May. In June I led Marty, staffer Laura Peterson, and board member Michael Smiley on a walking and driving tour of several key sections of the Conceptual Plan, and possible alternate routes. They in turn showed me the area thru which portions of the Larimer Trail (downstream of the Mining Museum) is poised to be built by Newmont.
The Land Trust people are enthusiastic to help move this project forward - touting it to the city as the beginning stages of a comprehensive trail system with links key areas of town, and additional trails and/or links upstream, down, and in-between. Going forward Marty will be the point person in this effort. At present she is working to get Howard and Bob out on a similar tour of the potential trails. I will continue to work with Marty and her people in whatever capacity I can, as well as continue my efforts to show the film to groups around town. I have a couple of feelers out in that regard.
It is also my pleasure to represent WCCA (and advocate for Wolf Creek) as one of many stakeholders in the Bear Watershed Group. The BWG is charged with coming up with a Restoration Plan for the entirety of the Bear River Watershed. There have been two meetings thus far, with funding funneled through SSI for four more bimonthly gatherings. To date the group has identified key components to a comprehensive disturbance inventory. These will be prioritized at the September meeting, which will result in a monitoring and data collection program, that would in turn drive and provide additional data to help form the restoration plan itself. I’ll let you know how that goes.
I close with a notion recently put forward by Benjamin Hale, Associate Professor of Environmental Philosophy at the University of Colorado. We all understand what trespassing is. As the Parkway comes to light the Land Trust, the WCCA, and the City of Grass Valley agree that no trespass, taking, or disturbance of any parcels of private property will take place without legal agreement from the owners in the form of a trail or conservation easement. That’s a given.
But can it also be construed that roads, fences, parking lots, homes, and businesses that are allowed to exist along the creek without proper setback and bank protection; along with any toxic or illegal discharge or pumping is in effect “trespassing?” Trespassing against all of us and the integrity and possibly legal standing of the creek that is as yet unrecognized as such but is in essence part of the Grass Valley Commons?
bruce
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Second Annual Chalk Art Mural Project
Please join us on Earth Day, Wednesday April 22 from 9-2, at the Holiday Inn Express, for the second annual chalk art mural. With the blessings of Gold Miner's Inn General Manager Sean Gilleran, Wolf Creek will once again come into the light of day! Unfortunately, the downtown stretch of the creek runs underground for over a quarter mile. The mural is intended to spread awareness of that fact and help build public support for the Wolf Creek Parkway.
Fourth grade students from Grass Valley Charter School, and high school students from Bitney College Prep High School will be rolling up their sleeves to "paint" the asphalt canvas. Many of you will remember the first installment of this mural, last year on May 1, the very day the Wolf Creek Community Alliance officially had our ribbon cutting to join the Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Following suit with last year, the mural is based on an original design by artist and GV Charter parent Tatiana Makovkin. This year the grid and outline for the mural will be overseen by Bitney Art Teacher Chad Wood. Besides running the Art and Social Science Programs at Bitney, Chad is a working artist. His original paintings have been shown and sold locally for several years, as well as in Sacramento, San Francisco, and Southern California.
Two fourth grade classes taught by Merry Biles-Daly and Lori Anderson will be participating in this highly energetic, creative, and meaningful project. Some of last year's student "artists," now in the fifth grade, may also stop by. The 2014 mural, and interviews with participants, was featured in our documentary film, "A Creek Runs Through It."
Spread the Word. Invite people. Again - this is a drop-by installation art project on Wednesday, April 22 from 9 am to 2 pm at the Holiday Inn Express (lower parking lot)!
see you there, bruce
Fourth grade students from Grass Valley Charter School, and high school students from Bitney College Prep High School will be rolling up their sleeves to "paint" the asphalt canvas. Many of you will remember the first installment of this mural, last year on May 1, the very day the Wolf Creek Community Alliance officially had our ribbon cutting to join the Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Following suit with last year, the mural is based on an original design by artist and GV Charter parent Tatiana Makovkin. This year the grid and outline for the mural will be overseen by Bitney Art Teacher Chad Wood. Besides running the Art and Social Science Programs at Bitney, Chad is a working artist. His original paintings have been shown and sold locally for several years, as well as in Sacramento, San Francisco, and Southern California.
Two fourth grade classes taught by Merry Biles-Daly and Lori Anderson will be participating in this highly energetic, creative, and meaningful project. Some of last year's student "artists," now in the fifth grade, may also stop by. The 2014 mural, and interviews with participants, was featured in our documentary film, "A Creek Runs Through It."
Spread the Word. Invite people. Again - this is a drop-by installation art project on Wednesday, April 22 from 9 am to 2 pm at the Holiday Inn Express (lower parking lot)!
see you there, bruce
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Stewards Log
8 March 2015
In preparation for putting "A Creek Runs Through It" on the WCCA web site, it has magically been seen lately on YouTube. The direct link is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QiOz6sgNKI
Other Parkway news: Our friend and ally Marty Coleman-Hunt has engaged in discussion about it with key city officials and City Council Members. We will be following up with that soon.
Also - On Wednesday, April 22, EARTH DAY, look for the second annual Chalk Art Mural Project taking shape once again in the lower lot at the Holiday Inn Express in Downtown GV. Students, teachers, and parents from Grass Valley Charter School and Bitney College Prep High School will be creating a representation of the creek of all places....above ground!
In preparation for putting "A Creek Runs Through It" on the WCCA web site, it has magically been seen lately on YouTube. The direct link is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QiOz6sgNKI
Other Parkway news: Our friend and ally Marty Coleman-Hunt has engaged in discussion about it with key city officials and City Council Members. We will be following up with that soon.
Also - On Wednesday, April 22, EARTH DAY, look for the second annual Chalk Art Mural Project taking shape once again in the lower lot at the Holiday Inn Express in Downtown GV. Students, teachers, and parents from Grass Valley Charter School and Bitney College Prep High School will be creating a representation of the creek of all places....above ground!
Friday, December 12, 2014
We are In!
12 December 2014
The twelve minute documentary I co-produced with Terra Nyssa has been accepted into the 2015 SYRCL Wild and Scenic Film Festival. The World Premier will be Saturday afternoon, January 17, in the OddFellows Hall in downtown Nevada City.
"A Creek Runs Through It" tells the story of the Wolf Creek Parkway. Come check it out if you get the chance.
After the film festival it will be "Forward Paddle" for the 2015 public awareness campaign.
http://www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org/2015-official-film-selections/
Bruce
The twelve minute documentary I co-produced with Terra Nyssa has been accepted into the 2015 SYRCL Wild and Scenic Film Festival. The World Premier will be Saturday afternoon, January 17, in the OddFellows Hall in downtown Nevada City.
"A Creek Runs Through It" tells the story of the Wolf Creek Parkway. Come check it out if you get the chance.
After the film festival it will be "Forward Paddle" for the 2015 public awareness campaign.
http://www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org/2015-official-film-selections/
Bruce
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