| Management Zone |
Sensitive Resources |
Existing Facilities |
Types of Users |
Relative Levels of Use |
Peak Use Period |
Assessment of Effects of Park Use on Sensitive Resources |
| Upper Rim (Zone 28) |
Oak woodlands, oak savanna, and grassland species found on thin soils along North Rim trail are sensitive to trampling and erosion |
North Rim Trail (maintenance road and trail) |
Bicyclists Equestrians Hikers |
Moderate Moderate Low |
Year round Year round Year round |
Measures should be implemented to keep users on the designated trail to reduce the erosion and expansion from inappropriate trail use. Monitoring of the trail should be conducted periodically to assess whether further erosion is occurring.
|
| South-Facing Slope (Zone 29) |
Oak woodlands and savanna formed on thin soils and steep slopes are sensitive to trampling, soil erosion, and wildfire |
Various trails |
Hikers Equestrians Bicyclists |
Moderate Moderate Moderate |
Year round Year round Year round |
Further measures should be implemented to control trail erosion, keep bicyclists on existing trails, and deter the establishment and use of non-designated trails. Monitoring of the area should be conducted periodically to assess whether
further trail erosion is occurring and whether additional bootleg trails are being created. |
| Upper Park Road/ Parking Corridor (Zone 30) |
Wetland areas are sensitive to disturbances that cause sedimentation; perennial grasslands are sensitive to soil disturbance; and oak woodlands are sensitive to trampling and soil compaction |
Upper Park Road (public road) and associated parking areas |
Motorists Bicyclists Equestrians Hikers |
High Low High Low Moderate |
Summer Other months Year round Year round Year round |
Measures are needed either to improve the condition of the road and parking areas to accommodate existing use levels, or to reduce vehicular use along the entire length or portions of the road. Methods should be considered for concentrating
vehicular use in a more limited area of the park to reduce impacts and restore disturbed areas. Measures are needed to contain vehicular use in existing parking areas. |
| North-Facing Slope (Zone 31) |
Oak woodlands developed on steep, rocky slopes are sensitive to soil erosion and wildfire |
Various trails |
Hikers |
Low |
Year round |
Measures should be taken to establish the trail system, control erosion on existing trails, and deter the creation of non-designated trails. Trails should be monitored to periodically assess the need for trail maintenance or closures.
|
| Big Chico Creek (Zone 32) |
Riparian areas, especially along steep creekbanks, are sensitive to vegetation loss, soil erosion, and wildlife disturbance |
Yahi Trail and creek access trails |
Swimmers Hikers |
High High |
Summer Year round |
Measures are needed to contain use in existing creekside use areas, especially during the summer peak season. Methods should be considered for directing use to more defined areas within the riparian corridor and to restore already disturbed
areas within the zone. Monitoring should be conducted at creekside use areas to periodically assess the extent of disturbance to sensitive resources. |
Credit: Jones & Stokes Associates, Inc.