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Health & Fitness

Connecting Pacifica Open Spaces


Riding up the Old San Pedro rd this week, the poison oak leaves are bright red and the last few blackberries are dropping from their thorny vines.
Looking up as I pedaled towards Montara Mt,Montara Knob,North+South Peaks,Sweeney and Milagra Ridges I could see all high points above Pacifica as clear as bells.
We are surrounded by these remarkable open spaces, but getting from one to the other , even if they directly border each other,can be very challenging.
The biggest obstacle to connected open spaces above Pacifica is the 20,400 acre Crystal Springs watershed, which is managed by the San Francisco Public Utilities District(SFPUC).
All the way from Pacifica to Half Moon Bay, there are existing fire-roads that connect Sweeney Ridge,San Pedro Valley Co Park,McNee Ranch State Parks and the Rancho Corral de Tierra.
SFPUC policy maintains that these fire-roads cannot be opened to non motorized public use out of consideration for water quality control within Crystal Springs reservoir.
However, each and every one of these fire-roads drain westward toward the Pacific,posing no threat to water quality within the hwy 280 bordered Crystal Springs lake.
All of the public open space lands above Pacifica could be connected by simply opening or moving existing security gates within SFPUC property.
Recreational use within public watershed lands is a legitimate time established  activity.
Even Marin Co provides extensive public access within the Mt Tamalpais watershed lands:
http://www.marinwater.org/documents/2010.10.20_VstrMap_color.pdf

Connecting our open spaces above Pacifica on trails or fire-roads would provide remarkable recreational routes connecting Milagra Ridge,Sweeney Ridge,Mori Point,San Pedro Valley County Park,Devils Slide and points south above Montara-El Granada all the way to Half Moon Bay.
As a lifelong bay area resident, I would welcome seeing these interconnected pathways within SFPUC lands opened for all willing and able to enjoy.

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