From management team of Cronin Ranch Acquisition:
AMERICAN RIVER CONVERSANCY
Released end of March, 2005

update:
 

"We expect to transfer the last four parcels of the 1,414 acre Cronin Ranch to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on May 17, 2005. In the meantime, we are working with the BLM and private contractors to make the improvements necessary to open the Cronin Ranch Regional Trails Park on Wednesday, May 18, 2005.

What You Can Do Before the Park and Trails Open to the Public!

The Conservancy is continuing to pursue funding to complete this trail system. Until the park is officially opened by the BLM in May, the Cronin Ranch continues to be private property. However, we will host organized monthly hikes at the Cronin Ranch. Contact us at (530) 621-1224 if you and/or your group would like to visit the ranch.

Trailbuilding Plans & Stewardship Opportunities!

We anticipate at least three phases of trail development:

        Phase 1 will be the opening of the Cronin Ranch Trails Park on May 18th and the immediate availability of nine miles of trail, all on the Cronin Ranch. We are coordinating the initial signage, gates, trail maps and other trail improvements that will allow public use to occur as soon as possible. The BLM currently has no funding for these improvements.

        Phase 2 will add another two miles of trail between the Cronin Ranch upstream to the Greenwood Creek unit that was transferred to the BLM in 1997 and 1998. A California Dept. of Forestry (CDF) crew is brushing the trail route now and we expect a small trail bulldozer operated by a BLM crew will rough in the trail between mid-April and mid May. We are now accepting volunteer applications to work on finishing the trail between mid-May and the end of June.  Please call Debbie Tachibana at the Conservancy office if you are interested in volunteering for this trail work. We are hopeful this segment of the trail will be opened to the public at the end of June. Please note, that we expect this section of the trail will be accessible from the Cronin Ranch only until additional parking is constructed off Highway 49 (and across from the Venezio Winery) sometime in 2006.

        Phase 3 will connect the Cronin Ranch to the Salmon Falls area at Folsom Lake. We are negotiating the purchase of several small trailside parcels that will make the trail much easier to traverse with significantly fewer switchbacks. We are hopeful this section of trail will be constructed by, and open to the public in, the fall of 2006.

Thank you very much for your support. We simply could not have preserved this remarkable river canyon without you