2009 was a very productive year for new hiking and biking oppurtunites and improvements on Peavine Mountain.  All told, the Poedunks and its Peavine trail partners organized and completed:

5 miles of new trail constructed by the Nevada Conservation Corps
(slide show of Nov/Dec work)

Logged 382 volunteer hours doing trail work and mountain clean ups 
(slide show of last two work days)

Prepared and will soon install  trail maps at eight trailhead kiosks.

Received the Truckee Meadows Tomorrow Silver Star Award for Open Space Access and Connectivity, a community quality of life indicator and category.

And the USFS & Washoe County Parks Department installed signage, route markers and a boundary fence in the Keystone Canyon Recreation Area.

The Poedunks would like to thank all of those who helped us out on the trail and who donated to our cause.  And thanks to our trail partners – the USFS, Nevada State Parks, Nevada Conservation Corps and the Washoe County Parks and Open Space Department, for all your help and support.  We look forward in 2010 to continue to make Peavine an even better place to hike and ride.  Plan to join us for a grand opening of the Halo trail the spring of 2010.    Till then… Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to you.

Pick up a free copy of ”Truckee Meadows Trails “” .  Your guide to trails in Reno, Sparks and Washoe Countyis available at the office of Washoe County Regional Parks and Open Space, 2601 Plumas St.   Also at area community centers, the Neil Road Recreation Center, Scheels, the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, Neil Road Recreation Center, Southside Cultural Center, McKinley Arts & Culture Center, Teglia’s Paradise Park Activity Center, Idlewild Park, Alf Sorensen Community Center, Larry D. Johnson Recreation Center, Sparks parks administration office on Richards Way, Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, Bartley Ranch Regional Park, North Valleys Regional Park and Lazy 5 Regional Park.   The guide also is available online at www.washoecountyparks.com.

Accentuate the Positive 2009 Silver Star Winners Announced
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jennifer Sanzi  jennifer@o-apr.com 775-829-2819

CATEGORY: NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Open Space Access & Connectivity  – The Poedunks

(RENO, Nev.) – Truckee Meadows Tomorrow  (TMT) has announced its 2009 Silver Star award winners.  These individuals and organizations have measurably improved the quality of life in the Truckee Meadows by positively impacting one of the community’s 33 Quality of Life Indicators, such as entrepreneurship, recreation and renewable energy. Recipients will be honored at Accentuate the Positive, a community-wide celebration scheduled for Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 at the Peppermill Tuscany Ballroom.

“It is extremely gratifying that even in these difficult times, so many individuals, groups and organizations are continuing to make such an impact on the quality of life here in the Truckee Meadows,” said Elaine Lancaster, co-chair of Accentuate the Positive. “We look forward to honoring them at Accentuate the Positive for the important work that they are doing.”

This year, nearly 100 nominations were submitted through the TMT Web site during the months of March and April. The review committee, made up of active community members and leaders, had the difficult job of reviewing each nomination with the intention of identifying one Silver Star for each of the 33 Quality of Life Indicators.

The 2009 Silver Star award recipients will showcase their award-winning projects and efforts at the October Accentuate the Positive luncheon.
To become an event sponsor or to purchase individual tickets or tables, log on to www.truckeemeadowstomorrow.org. Accentuate the Positive’s visionary/underwriter sponsors include the City of Reno, KRNV News 4, NV Energy, Northern Nevada Business Weekly, Olsen & Associates, Renown Health, RLife and The Glenn Group.

Click here for a list of award recipients.

-This award was made possible because of all the work of the Poedunk board members, our land management partners at the United States Forest Service, Nevada State Parks, Washoe County Parks, the Nevada Conservation Corps and to everyone who has helped us on the trail and clean up days over the past two years.  Thank you all  – Dale Beesmer, Poedunks.  

It is hard to believe after years of hardwork the Halo Trail is finally happening. The NCC has made excellent progress this Spring completing a little more than a mile so far the Double U is almost complete. The Poedunks kicked off the trailwork season Saturday April 18 by dialing in a switchback and taking a ride/tour of the Halo. Thanks: Lee, Stan, Alan, Maryann, Brian. We are going to be very busy finishing and riding the trail in the next few months and look forward to seeing y’all out there. Please check out the slideshow below to see the progress. -Randy

When: 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 28

What: Groundbreaking Ceremony and Discover Your Parklands hike.

Where: Site of the future Michael D. Thompson Trailhead at Hunter Creek. The site is located at the end of Woodchuck Circle west of Plateau Road in Juniper Ridge.

Hikers and great outdoor lovers are invited to celebrate the upcoming onstruction of a new trailhead just minutes from central Reno with access to the spectacular Mt. Rose Wilderness Area.

Washoe County Regional Parks and Open Space Park Ranger Marie Fong will lead a Discover Your Parklands hike along Hunter Creek immediately following the ceremony. The Michael D. Thompson trailhead is located on a seven-acre easement dedicated to Washoe County by the David J. and Claudia A. Thompson Family Trust. When completed, the trailhead will include picnic areas, an interpretive kiosk, parking for passenger vehicles and horse trailers, and restrooms. Trailhead construction is funded by the 2000 voter approved WC-1 Regional Parks, Trails, Open Space & Libraries Bond.

Construction will begin in late summer of this year and the trailhead is expected to open to the public by the summer of 2009. The new trailhead will be maintained by Washoe County’s Department of Regional Parks and Open Space. The Department’s mission is to provide exceptional parks and open space, and recreational opportunities while preserving our natural, historical and cultural resources. For more information, visit www.washoecountyparks.com .

This closure went to effect Tuesday May 27 and may effect your weekday travels on the Jones & Jones-White Creek trails.  Please give mountain bikers a good name and respect the area closure.The map download is at the upper right hand column under:
Carson Ranger District – Whites Creek Fuelwood Stewardship Sale Area Closure Order  

News Release from the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest -Carson Ranger District

1536 S. Carson Street Contact: Franklin Pemberton 775-884-8150 Carson City, NV 89701 For Immediate Release on May 27, 2008 Stop Date is: July 7, 2008 Temporary Weekday Closure of Whites Creek and Jones-Whites Creek Loop Trails Carson City, Nevada…The Carson Ranger District is temporarily closing a portion of the popular Whites Creek Canyon area due to hazardous fuels reduction activities that include the felling of trees near the trail. 

The temporary closure will start on Wednesday, May 28, 2008, and is expected to be lifted by July 4, 2008. 

The temporary closure will be in effect during the weekdays only and will be lifted on Saturday and Sunday. 

Thomas Creek trailhead will remain open and allow access to the Dry Pond Trail. 

For more information concerning the temporary closure, or the hazardous fuels reduction activities in the area, please contact the Carson Ranger District at 775-882-2766. 

For public and worker safety, this area will be temporarily closed to all public access including dog walking, foot traffic, mountain bikes, and equestrians. Violation of these prohibitions is subject to punishment by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than six months or both, as Class B Misdemeanors under federal law.The western portion of the Jones-Whites Creek Loop Trail will continue to be accessible from the Galena Creek Regional Park. The western portion of the Whites Creek Trail is still accessible from the Dry Pond Trail.

For information from the USFS and a map that shows the trail closure visit the Humboldt-Toiyabe National web site at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/

Check it out. The Great Basin Institute started a cool Nevada State Trails website. Check it out. We got to see about getting some of the Reno-Tahoe trails on that map.

-M

PUBLIC WORKSHOP TO REVIEW FINAL DRAFT OF WASHOE COUNTY’S OPEN SPACE PLAN ON JANUARY 24TH

A new projection forecasts the county population to nearly double to 790,000 by 2040. Peavine Mountain is more than 50% private land. The Virginia Range, now mostly undeveloped, is 90% privately owned.

The county is giving citizens one last chance to review the draft Regional Open Space Plan on January 24, 2008, before the adoption phase, when the plan goes to the Washoe County Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners for approval in February/March, and from there to the cities for their buyin.

We’ll be formulating Talking Points and asking people to attend or write letters to our representatives when exact meeting times are announced.

In the meantime, please attend the January 24th meeting. The format is similar to the October 23, 2007 meeting, with of the plan available for review. This document will be the blueprint for open space for twenty years. It’s vital to be involved now!

Open Space Plan Public Input Workshop
Thursday, January 24, 2008
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Wilbur D. May Museum
Rancho San Rafael Regional Park
1595 N. Sierra Street, Reno

“Washoe County is now at a stage where preserving open space is critical to the future of our economy, as well as our environment,” said Lynda Nelson, Planning Manager for Washoe County Regional Parks and Open Space. “Every resident has a stake in how these resources are impacted by growth and increasing use.”

For additional information or to request a special needs accommodation, please contact Lynda Nelson at 823-6511 or Bill Whitney at 328-3617. Or Susan at 843-7481

Keep Washoe Wild! A Project of Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Scenic Nevada, and the Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club

Susan Juetten
Keep Washoe Wild!
775-843-7481

Dear Open Space and Greenways Plan Stakeholders,

This notice is being sent to you on behalf of Terry Zeller, City of Reno Park Development Planner.  Terry’s contact number is (775) 334-2528.

Regrettably, the staff report and presentation to the City Council on recommendations from the July 26, 2007 Open Space & Greenways Stakeholders Meeting has been moved to the September 12, 2007 Council meeting.  The September 12th agenda will be posted on September 5, 2007.

Please go to www.cityofreno.com, Events Calendar, for this item’s order in the agenda. 

The City of Reno Staff is going to recommend to council to approve the implementation of the City of Reno’s Open Space and Greenways plan by:

1) hiring a full time staff person to head up the City of Reno’s Open Space Plan

2) allocate $200k for initial seeding money for the program (but not for any maintenance)

3) that future funds go towards maintenance of trails/paths, acquisition of open space, open space projects and seed or matching $ for grants.

IF you are in favor of these actions you can voice your support at the meeting, or send an email to the council and local representative.

Will post contact numbers soon – Dale Beesmer

—–Original Message—–

From: Veronica Hee-Garcia [mailto:hee-garciav@ci.reno.nv.us]

Dear Open Space and Greenways Plan Stakeholders,

This notice is being sent to you on behalf of Terry Zeller, City of Reno Park Development Planner. Terry’s contact number is (775) 334-2528.

The staff report and presentation to the City Council on recommendations from the July 26, 2007 Open Space & Greenways Stakeholders Meeting is scheduled for the August 29th Council meeting. The August 29th agenda will be posted on August 22, 2007.

Please go to www.cityofreno.com

Events Calendar, for this item’s order in the agenda.

Thank you.