Beginning Tuesday, July 15, the East Bay Regional Park District will begin a hazardous tree and fuel mitigation project at Redwood Regional Park. This project will last until mid-September. Approximately one mile of the East Ridge Trail from Skyline Gate to Prince Trail will be closed, as will the Phillips Loop and Eucalyptus Trail. To minimize the impact on park users, these closures will occur only during project work hours ,which are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The trails will be open during the weekends and before 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m. during the week. See project map.

 

An update of the project will be on the regularly scheduled Operations Committee agenda this Thursday, July 31, at 12:45 p.m., at the Park District headquarters, 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland.  

The purpose of the project is to thin aging Monterey pine and eucalyptus trees that grow along the trail, to create a safer and healthier forest environment. In addition, the thinning of weak and older trees will provide a safer path for park users, enhance fire protection, and improve growing conditions for native plants. Due to the age of the trees and density of the forest, the incidence of falling trees, branches, and dead material has been increasing. Falling debris is hazardous to park users and results in a greater fuel load, which would be dangerous in a wildfire. This section of trail is popular for hikers, runners, dog walkers, cyclists, equestrians, and children on bikes and in strollers. Once finished, the trail will still offer plenty of shade and less debris.

During the project hours, equestrians and hikers may use the Stream and Prince trails to bypass the project zone. Unfortunately, cyclists will not be able to bypass the project zone and will need to turn around at the junction of East Ridge and Prince trails. The Park District apologizes for the inconvenience and will work as quickly as possible to complete the project.

This project is equally funded by Measure CC and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Measure CC is a 2004 parcel tax passed by voters in the western half of the East Bay Regional Park District for park access, wildfire protection, public safety and environmental maintenance.