Update: Cotoni-Coast Dairies
Cotoni-Coast Dairies consists of nearly 6,000 acres of redwood forest, agricultural land, and coastal bluffs and beaches along the Pacific ocean. Photo: Jim Pickering, BLM.
12/11/20 Update
The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) plan for Cotoni-Coast Dairies has been APPROVED by the California Coastal Commission.
This approval — which was contingent on finding the plan to be in line with the California Coastal Act — was the final piece of the planning puzzle. Now BLM can move forward with the first phase of the plan which includes the construction of 17 miles of multi-use trails!
Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBOSC) is assisting with trail planning and construction, and flagging and other work is already underway by staff.
Scroll down for more information on this jewel of coastal property that will offer incredible experiences for all trail users, including mountain bikers, of course!
11/20/20 Update
The final plan has been shared and includes over 25 miles of new singletrack, with access for Class 1 and 2 e-bikes on trails that traditional bikes are allowed!
Please take a moment to submit a letter by Thursday 12/3/20 to the California Coastal Commission in support of the plan.
More from MBOSC: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking approval for its public access plan for Cotoni-Coast Dairies (C-CD) from the California Coastal Commission, an agency that regulates coastal development. This plan will bring 25 miles of new trails to Santa Cruz County’s North Coast as well as pave the way for long term conservation of this amazing resource. (For more information on the plan, click here.) The property adjoins San Vicente Redwoods where an additional 30+ miles of trails are planned. This presents an opportunity for creating more access and conserving local lands unparalleled in recent decades. Coastal Commission approval of the plan is one of the final hurdles to bringing the plan to fruition.
Please take a few minutes to submit a letter to the Coastal Commission in support of the plan to open Cotoni-Coast Dairies to public access. A few minutes of your time will lead to meaningful trail access for a lifetime and generations to come.
Original post
It’s no secret that Santa Cruz County boasts world class mountain biking trails. It’s also no secret that many of those trails are, well, secret. Although much progress has been made in recent years, legal mountain biking opportunities are woefully limited.
That could change considerably with the approval of a mountain bike-friendly management plan for Cotoni-Coast Dairies, located near Davenport just past Wilder Ranch State Park.
YOUR voice can make this happen — all you have to do is speak up for trail access by March 19.
It’s super simple, too. Just sign MBOSC’s sample letter, and submit it electronically, email it, fax it to (831) 582-2266, or send it by snail mail to BLM Central Coast Field Office, Attn: Cotoni-Coast Dairies RMPA/EA, 940 2nd Ave., Marina, CA 93933-6009. La voila!
Want to make a bigger impression on decision makers? Share your thoughts via your own unique letter, using MBOSC’s talking points.
One last thing to consider … if you don’t participate in this current Public Comment Period and share your opinion by March 19, you cannot participate in the Public Protest Period.
So, ensure your voice is heard — and heard again if necessary! — by getting your letter in pronto.
Of the three proposed management alternatives, Alternative C is the only one that offers enough mtb-friendly trails to make a worthwhile experience. Time is running out to speak up in favor of this option!
About Cotoni-Coast Dairies
The 6,000-acre Cotoni-Coast Dairies, located off Highway 1 north bound from Santa Cruz, includes 700 acres of redwood forest, seven coastal miles with beaches, six different watersheds, and hundreds of acres of agricultural lands.
The property boasts a rich history; from being home to native peoples (the Costanoans and Ohlones) to being held under Spanish and Mexican land grants to having a dairy farm and cement company run on it, to being acquired by the Trust for Public Land and donated to the BLM … to finally landing in its current state as a National Monument.
As a National Monument, this extraordinary location offers considerable opportunities for recreation and stewardship. Cotoni-Coast Dairies trail access would give mountain bikers the additional legal riding options so desperately needed in the Santa Cruz area.
Furthermore, this access would allow for connectivity between the coming San Vicente Redwoods trails and the coast. This is key to improving overall trail connectivity in Santa Cruz County.
Learn more about Cotoni-Coast Dairies here. To stay in the loop, follow MBOSC on Facebook, and sign up for their weekly eNewsletter.
Coast Dairies was donated to the BLM by the Trust for Public Land in 2014. Photo: Jim Pickering, BLM.
This peek through the oak trees at the Pacific ocean is a common sight at Cotoni-Coast Dairies. Photo: Jim Pickering, BLM.