Rubicon Trail strife

• 5/09 unedited tahoe mt. news

For now, the world-renowned 4x4 Rubicon Trail will stay open. But that may change if things don’t soon improve.
After more than six hours, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board on April 23 put El Dorado County and the Eldorado National Forest, a branch of the U.S. Forest Service, on notice.
A water quality protection plan must be formulated by October 2010, with a long-term management plan ready six months later.
At issue are erosion along the trail, vehicles leaking liquid contaminants and humans defecating in the forest.
More than 300 people attended the meeting. Assemblyman Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, who represents Lake Tahoe, is an advocate of keeping the famed route open.
“Any sort of closure would devastate rural economies throughout Placer and El Dorado counties, causing an irreversible job loss not only in the off-roading industry but for the restaurants, hotels and gas stations thousands of outdoor enthusiasts flock to each year,” Gaines said in a press release after speaking at the hearing.
Also at the meeting was off-road hall of famer Mark A. Smith, founder of Jeep Jamboree USA.
The water board also wants the land owners to measure usage along the trail and consider limiting the number of vehicles in the future.