Action prior to/on May 15th

• Speak up. Leave an “ecomment” prior to May 15th at 1:00pm,  to have your voices heard.   The comment period is now open.  Click the link below and it will take you directly to the agenda item.  
  https://albemarle.granicusideas.com/meetings/652-board-of-supervisors-on-2024-05-15-1-00-pm-regular-second-meeting/agenda_items/663bd48df2b670689b0027a2-9-24-263-ragged-mountain-reservoir-recreational-u
• Sign up. Attend the May 15th Board of Supervisors (BoS) meeting, they don’t just have to be in your district.  Sign ups will be for Matters of the Public.  Both 1:00 and 6:00 slots are available
  https://www.albemarle.org/government/board-of-supervisors/public-meeting-participation-guide
• Share. This is about more than just bikers. Share our outreach messaging with others  who love our reservoir trail system. We need ALL of our trail users to be involved in this process.
• Learn. Read up on the upcoming community water supply plan
  South Rivanna Reservoir to Ragged Mountain Reservoir Water Line Project
•  
• Key “Talking Points” 
  Contact information:  Board Members | Albemarle County, VA
•  
• Everyone knows that bikes don't pollute, or disturb wildlife more than any other user group. 
  - All of the wonderful outdoor places in our community are  natural areas that all users cherish.  In no way does allowing running and bicycling harm water quality, or negatively affect the flora and fauna, including at Ragged Mountain Reservoir.  The mountain bike community is supportive of helping this Ragged remain a place to “be in nature” and purely wants this to be accessible to everyone.  
  - Human presence at Ragged Mountain is evident and longstanding. Old homestead foundations can be found within the park leftover from those who farmed the valley. The reservoir at Ragged Mountain has seen 5 major construction projects, and the subsequent expansions of the reservoir pool, along with the newest expansion which is beginning soon.   In addition, a major highway forms a border of the area, and crosses over the reservoir.
  - Cycling does not increase disturbance of the wildlife,  Papouchis et al 2001: Animals fled 61% of encounters with hikers, and only 6% of the time a mountain biker approaches.
•  
• No new trails are required to allow biking at Ragged Reservoir.  
  -  The trail system at Ragged Reservoir is already built, including 7.5 miles of hiking trails and the  single 6.5 mile loop that was designated in the Master Park Plan as shared use (biking allowed).  Changing the code to allow biking will have NO impact on the natural environment, as the trails are already there.  
• - Collaboration of this process will make our Community stronger.     
  We recognize how special this place is, which is why we would prefer to partner with other organizations to balance access with sustainability.
  - CAMBC has a long history of working with the County and the City, and including working with the staff regarding ecological areas that need to be avoided/protected.
  - CAMBC hosts monthly Land Manager meetings with ACPR, CDPR, BPAC, RTF, and UVA, focusing the discussion on trail development and maintenance for all trails in our communities.  This demonstrates CAMBCs commitment to collaboration,  brings our community together, and helps to provide a healthier, more connected community for the benefit of all.
  - CAMBC collaborates on trail partners with dozens of community partners including:  Rivanna Trail Foundation, Albemarle County, City of Charlottesville, CATS, US Forest Service, VA Department of Forestry, UVA, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (Cadillac Crew), Boy Scouts (Order of the Arrow), Multiple Eagle Scouts projects, UVA Outdoors Club, UVA Forestry Club, Community Bikes, Safe Routes for Schools, Thomas Jefferson Foundation, UVA Cycling Club, UVA Madison House, multiple UVA service fraternities/sororities,  every High School in the City and County, Appalachian Conservation Corps, Shenandoah National Park Trust, Piedmont Environmental Council, NICA, Cutaway, United Way Day of Caring (20 years), Charlottesville Area Trail Stewards, Center for Urban Habitats, Rivanna Conservation Alliance…
•  
• Biking is healthy for our older community members too.  
• - Biking isn’t just a young person's sport.  Biking is healthy for seniors.  Many older community members can not comfortably hike on our trail systems, but can safely cycle on our trails  secondary to knee and/or hip pain/problems.  We know this because over 25% of CAMBC members are 50 years old, or older.  Our oldest active members are over 75 years old and arguably some of the fittest elders around.  In fact, if you want a vibrant and healthy senior  community,  you should encourage seniors to hike, run, and bike.  Removing biking from Ragged takes away the opportunity for seniors to bike on easier safe beginner friendly  trails.  Restoring biking at Ragged will encourage folks to stay healthy and to thrive as they age. 
• It is not true that there are only 2 places for “hiker-only”.  There are many other areas for pedestrian only access in the County.
• - Shenandoah National Park - 15 miles of trails, plus 30 miles of the Appalachian Trail  = 45 miles of all hiker only are on the 14,681 acres inside Albemarle County. 
  James Monroe Highlands - 4.5 miles,  535 acres
  Charlotte Humphris Park - 1.5 miles, 25 acres
  Totier Creek - 3.0 miles, 209 acres 
  Fernbrook Natural Area (Nature Conservancy) - 2.0 miles, 63 acres
  Sugar Hollow - 4.0 miles
  Ivy Creek - 7.0 miles, 219 acres
  Ragged -  7.0 miles + lakeside trails , 980 acres
  William Woods Natural Heritage Area  - 410 acres
• Total = Approx. 74 miles of pedestrian only trails in all of Albemarle County on 17,122 acres*
• *22 of those miles are close to Charlottesville   (Monroe Highlands, Sugar Hollow, Ivy Creek and this includes Ragged)
•  More, not less, outdoor access. Our kids, families, and community treasure our outdoor spaces, where we can safely play, explore, and engage with nature. The more access we and our children  have to nature, the more likely we are to preserve it in the future.  
• We support happy hikers. Hiker-only trails at Ragged Mountain Reservoir have already been designed through the public process that occurred 8 years ago and a plan came forward from that with a shared use loop and the rest of the trails (being hiker only).   That plan includes 7-½ miles of hiking trails, and just one 6-½ mile shared use loop allowing bikes.  With those amenities  Ragged Mountain Reservoir provides a unique setting for families of all fitness and skill levels.
• Volunteers fuel our community.  The trail user community as a whole is committed to rebuilding the Ragged Mountain trails after the planned submersion of the existing trails takes place. We have no plans for additional or new trails as we respect the ecological impact that has already been made.  We have the expertise and volunteer human power to rebuild sustainable (minimizing  erosion, protecting sensitive areas) trails (that are submerged) and provide both shared use AND hiker only trails.  This collaboration not only brings our community together but it also saves tremendous costs to the land managers. 
•  
• Messaging Tips
• Keep it Kind and Positive. At CAMBC we strive to foster positive relationships with other trail users, clubs, and municipal land managers. The spirit of our interactions will be respectful, collaborative, and positive. Let’s do our part to preserve civil discourse regardless of how others may present themselves.
  - Stick to the facts. The CAMBC board has crafted our messaging based on years of engagement with stakeholders. By aligning our messaging, we are more likely to be successful. Use our provided talking points to guide your contributions, but make them personal.

Thanks for your voice with this important community issue