The Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA), an AHS Alliance member, is facing new threats to the integrity of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) from urban and commercial development.Of particular concern, said PCTA leaders, are hundreds of simple right-of-way easements and the protection they may or may not provide where the trail traverses approximately 300 miles of private land.

Although the PCT is contiguous, there are several segments at risk. These include "interim" road walks, commercial timberlands, and former commercial timberlands that have been sold, subdivided, and are being developed adjacent to the trail. Some PCT easements are benign and non-controversial, but those at risk exacerbate the exposure of the narrow 10-30' wide trail corridor.

The PCTA has embarked upon a 3-phased project to inventory PCT easements, assess threats to the trail, and develop a strategy for working with agencies, landowners, and land trust organizations to improve protection for trail segments that pass through private lands. Field assessment focuses on developed lands owned by individuals or companies and lands with imminent development potential. These segments will be protected first through purchases, land swaps, or donations between land managers and willing landowners.According to PCTA Vice President, Bob Nida, the goal of the effort is to establish a "better, more protected corridor" for the trail and "to minimize impacts, user conflicts, and conflicts with landowners." Collaboration is paramount for protecting the trail and recreation experience and "the trail would not exist," Nida said, "without the cooperation of landowners." The PCTA received assistance for this long-term project from the L. A. Dexter Environmental Trust, the National Forest Foundation, and the USDA Forest Service.

American Hiking joined PCTA members in successfully advocating for a $1.5 million Land and Water Conservation Fund appropriation to begin the land acquisition process in a particularly unsafe and threatened area of southern California this year. "There are similarly threatened areas in other parts of California as well as Washington and Oregon," says Nida, "and we will continue our advocacy until all are safe and secure."

For more information about the PCT easement project contact the PCTA at 916.349.2109 or www.pcta.org.

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