Reopen Williamson! Saturday 8/11, Arcadia
Details
The Forest Service is having a public meeting this Saturday to consider plans for reopening Williamson Rock!
For those who don't know, Williamson Rock in the Angeles National Forest near Wrightwood/Mt High was considered the best place to climb in the summer in Southern California until it was closed in 2005 to protect an endangered frog (Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog).
After many years of inattention and consideration (and monitoring), The USFS has completed a Draft Environmental Impact Study and has alternatives posed for re-opening access to this stellar climbing resource.
There are 4 alternatives that will be discussed at the meetings. It would be extremely helpful to be familiar with these alternatives! Below are the 4 alternatives:
Alternative 1: No Action. Under Alternative 1, the project area would be accessible to year-round dispersed recreational use with the management measures that were in place prior to the December 2005 closure.
Alternative 2: Current Closure Management. Alternative 2 would continue the temporary closure of the entire project area. The duration of the long-term closure of the area would be based on MYLF (Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog) recovery.
Alternative 3: Proposed Action (Adaptive Management). Alternative 3 would provide seasonal recreational use at Williamson Rock, year-round use of the PCT in the project area, and implement measure with adaptive management to protect MYLF, MYLF habitat, and other unique resources in the project area.
Alternative 4: PCT Reroute (Adaptive Management). Alternative 4 includes all components described in Alternative 3, with the exception that a 2.5-mile segment of the PCT in the project area would be rerouted. Under Alternative 4, the PCT would be rerouted to divert hiking traffic away from Williamson Rock and to avoid crossing Little Creek (MYLF designated critical habitat).
With our commitment and cooperation we can forge a new alliance with the Forest Service in which all parties benefit. Please, be respectful and courteous! We cannot stress this enough! Any hostility will be counterproductive to re-opening this beautiful location.
Join me this Saturday! Let's show up in numbers to let them know we need this crag opened and will help steward the area for sustainable recreational use far into the future.
Access Fund link: https://www.accessfund.org/news-and-events/news/southern-californias-williamson-rock-on-the-path-to-reopening
Forest Service link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=43405
Mountain Project link: https://www.mountainproject.com/area/105933017/williamson-rock