This petition is free to sign, no contributions are needed.

Thank you for your support.

Auburn Ravine Nature Preserve aka Lincoln Crossing Nature Preserve was established in 2002 to protect the wildlife, wetlands, and delicate habitats in perpetuity.  As concerned nature-loving residents of Lincoln, we want to bring to your attention and effort by the City of Lincoln’s Park and Recreation Advisory Committee and a Rocklin business owner, to construct an 18 hole disc golf course to be placed on the entire 63 acres of the Preserve which is located along Auburn Ravine between Joiner Parkway and Lincoln Blvd in Lincoln, CA.

Proponents say it will have thousands of players yearly and many weekend tournaments, yet in the same breath state that no damage will be done to the fragile plants, trees, wildlife, salmon, etc.

 The Auburn Ravine Nature Preserve was designed only for passive activities such as walking on the paved trail or sitting on the benches along the trail, and not for active recreation, such as disc golf.

Dozens if not hundreds of people in our community enjoy walking, jogging, birdwatching and cycling on this trail every day, from the young to the old, and some with their fur babies.

The nature preserve displays serene meadows growing beautiful wildflowers, hosts numerous types of woodland animals and birds trilling, nesting and flying among the canopy of various types of trees and flora, has bright emerald green grass blanketing the ground around the wetlands that brings pleasure to the eyes and a stream ecosystem that feeds into the American river where Salmon swim up to spawn.

Those of us that currently enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of this special place will no longer be able to do so if there are hundreds of people walking around throwing discs up to 300 feet at 50-75 mph imposing a safety risk to pedestrians and animals. Continuous walking throughout the preserve will destroy this beautiful area and create erosion which will send silt into the stream with the potential of harming the Salmon eggs. Construction of 18 cement tee off pads that are 6 feet by 12 feet, 18 metal chain baskets on steel poles possibly with commercial signage and 54 cement pole bases for baskets (3 at each tee off) will not only take away from the pristine natural beauty but will destroy the nature preserve.

By signing this petition, you are asking The City of Lincoln to say No to Disc Golf and any other sport in the Auburn Ravine Nature Preserve and protect what was previously promised.

AUBURN RAVINE NATURE PRESERVE IS HOME TO ENDANGERED SPECIES

Rarely do cities have wildlife preserves within their city boundaries.

 The City’s Auburn Ravine Nature Preserve is a unique riparian corridor and wildlife habitat that is home to California endangered species.

Preserves are good for wildlife and flora and good for our health. "Access to nature has been related to lower levels of mortality and illness, restoration from stress, a greater sense of well-being, and greater social capital."

Once this habitat is destroyed it will be gone forever.

Environmental reasons to protect the Nature Preserve:

● Listed as Threatened Species- Swainson’s Hawk and Burrowing Owl habitats and various wildlife habitats they rely on for survival will be destroyed if the disc golf course is developed. These birds have been spotted in the Nature Preserve a well as the Red-Legged Frog, spawning Salmon and many other interesting animals, birds, and flora.

● Vernal Pools and Fragile Wetlands-Many Fairy Shrimp species are now federally protected largely because the habitat they depend on – vernal pools - have been lost to agriculture and development.

● Flood Plain-Definition: Floodplains allow floodwaters to spread out and temporarily store excess water. This reduces flood peaks and velocities and the potential for erosion.

● Noise-Damage to animal habitats caused by human and traffic noise.

● Soil Erosion, damage to trees and their root structures from trampling and hitting with extremely hard composite disk.

Neighborhood Traffic concerns

● Residential streets and Moore Road are not designed for commercial traffic nor are they wide enough for parking on both sides of the street.  This increased traffic will impede emergency vehicles access to both areas. 

● Not enough parking to accommodate the Dog Park and a large public disc golf course that will be jam packed on the weekends.

Bathrooms

● Bathrooms would have to be built to accommodate the number of people attending a disc golf course. No building is allowed in a Nature Preserve.

● Bathroom access would be an open invitation to the homeless population.

Crime concerns

● Other local disc golf parks are not located near residential homes. Residents report increased drinking, drug use and burglaries. Police reports to prove problems are being gathered.

Homeowner Concerns

● Homeowners pay a special assessment in their property taxes to maintain the space as a Nature Preserve.

● A public disc golf course would have to be disclosed when selling a home. With accompanying noise, traffic and parking problems, this would adversely affect home prices throughout the neighborhood.

This Nature Preserve is a corridor for numerous woodland animals, has Vernal pools which house Federally Protected Fairy Shrimp, a nesting and hunting area for the threatened Swainson’s Hawk, a Migratory Bird Pathway, a stream corridor for the threatened Chinook Salmon and Steelhead and much much more! 

Please help protect and keep this a Nature Preserve. Disc golf and other activities mean trampling through areas that would cause erosion, debris and silt flowing into streams and harming the Salmon that are spawning with potential of choking off their eggs. Additionally, clearing of bushes where the woodland animals live, possibly cutting down trees, walking through protected wetlands, bushwhacking and hitting trees with an extremely hard disc will adversely affect our wetlands and preserve.

Please, help us protect this special place, not just for us but for generations to come.

Lincoln residents have a responsibility to protect it!

The City of Lincoln has a responsibility too.