Wandering Wheelers Jeep Club

Looks like little sluice is gonzo.

Here's a link to the discussion on pirate:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=857966

Option 3 was what the OHV community wanted, Option 1 was what the enviros wanted, the board ended up with Option 2 with two amendments (sluice box related) which is being called Option 2A.

Basically, it appears as if the little sluice box isn't going to remain the same. The plan at this point is to reduce the size of the boulders in the box (amendment 1), and to allow the bypass around little sluice until the size of the boulders can be reduced (amendment 2).

I guess the plan is to put that part of the trail back to the way it used to be, but in reality it's more than likely going to move the entertainment to some other part of the trail and cause this whole issue to start all over again.

OPTION 2:
Option 2 consists of the single centerline alignment of Option 1, plus some specific variant routes in selected locations. If the Board of Supervisors chooses to include variant routes in addition to the single centerline alignment of Option 1, staff recommends that the Board choose the additional variants from among the following “Recommended Variants.” Potential variant routes that staff recommends against selecting are discussed below under “Variants Not Recommended.”

RECOMMENDED VARIANTS:
* Map Location (N) “Granite Bypass West of Postpile”- County staff recommends the recognition and maintenance of two alignments through this area. The northerly alignment provides an alternative that is more suitable when the more southerly route is saturated. The southerly alignment will require additional BMPs to comply with the CAO. County staff believes that both routes can be maintained using standard trail BMPs to comply with CAO objectives.
* Map Location (A) “Vicinity of Postpile”- County staff recommends the recognition and maintenance of two alignments through the Postpile area. The more traditional “Postpile” route includes a historic rock which is difficult for some users to overcome, and presents more difficult drainage issues, while the recommended variant route avoids both. County staff believes that both recommended routes can be maintained using standard trail BMPs to comply with CAO objectives. Several other variant routes through this area are not recommended. County staff recommends eliminating the two westerly variant alignments (designated 1.3 and 1.5 on Map), which are infrequently used and do not comply with the CAO. The Department recommends remediation of the non-selected variants using standard trail BMPs and discouraging future use on them.
* Map Location (B) “Top of Postpile”- County staff recommends the recognition and maintenance of two alignments in this area. The more northerly route is on granite and is more suitable in freezing conditions. The southerly route represents the historic route. County staff believes that both routes can be maintained using standard trail BMPs to comply with CAO objectives.
* Map Location (H) “Little Sluice Long Bypass”, and (I) “Little Sluice South Bypass”- County staff recommends the recognition and maintenance of two variant routes in the vicinity of the Little Sluice Box, primarily because of the difficulty in passing through the Little Sluice Box (included in Option 1) in its current condition. Both variant H (Long Bypass) and variant I (Short Bypass) are recommended, since each provides an easier alternate route over granite. County staff believes that these two recommended variant routes through the Little Sluice Box area can be maintained using standard trail BMPs to comply with CAO objectives.
* Map Location (K) “Old Sluice Box” and “Indian Trail Bypass”- County staff recommends the recognition and maintenance of two alignments in this area. Both are historically-used routes. The easterly Indian Trail Bypass is more scenic and easier to traverse, and since it passes mostly over granite, presents fewer sediment issues. It is included as part of Option 1, the preferred single alignment. The westerly route has a difficult section at its southerly end (called the “Old Sluice Box”) which presents formidable drainage and sediment issues, but is challenging and attractive to skilled users. Staff believes that both routes can be maintained using standard trail BMPs to comply with CAO objectives.
* Map Location (L) “Buck Island”- County staff recommends the recognition and maintenance of two alignments in this area. The southerly route is the historic route but is impassable when the lake has high water due to SMUD operations. The newer northerly route avoids high water and presents fewer difficult sediment and drainage issues. County staff believes that both routes can be maintained using standard trail BMPs to comply with CAO objectives.

VARIANTS NOT RECOMMENDED:
* Map Location (M) “Wentworth Springs Campground Bypass”- County staff recommends against further use of the northerly variant through this area. The northerly alignment (designated 1.1 on Map) represents a user-created variant which avoided a low lying area which retained water prior to the Department and Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) 2006/2007 joint maintenance efforts. It is the Department’s opinion that the 2006/2007 installed standard trail BMPs have improved the conditions of the recommended single alignment (1.0) at this location in accordance with the CAO requirements, eliminating the need for the secondary variant (1.1). Hence, the Department recommends remediating the non-preferred northerly variant using standard BMPs and discouraging future use on it.
* Map Location (C) “14N34B”- A USFS historic trail designated 14N34B, also known as the McKinstry Trail, intersects with the recommended Rubicon Trail alignment just west of Ellis Creek. This trail is on USFS property, and it drains into the recommended Rubicon Trail and into nearby Ellis Creek. This trail is mostly on the USFS property, and is outside the current preferred Rubicon Trail alignment. The Department does not recommend that it become part of the Rubicon Trail. Standard trail BMPs can be used at the intersection to control run-off and sediment, and to discourage future access to/from the Rubicon Trail at this location in order to comply with CAO requirements. All other trail work on 14N34B necessary to comply with the CAO should be completed by the USFS.
* Map Location (D) “After Ellis Creek” – The southerly, historic trail section has been a major sediment source and drainage problem. County staff recommends utilizing the most popular variant located just to the north (designated 1.6 on Map) as the preferred single alignment in Option 1. Starr recommends remediating and restoring the non-preferred southerly trail section using standard trail BMPs, and discouraging future use on it.
* Map Location (E) “Soup Bowl” – County staff recommends retaining the most used variant location (designated 1.0 on Map) as the preferred single alignment in Option 1, and remediating the northerly variant which is a major sediment source and safety problem. The northerly variant is a more recently developed section of the trail that splits uphill, which is considered more challenging. Vehicles typically get stuck in this area creating a safety hazard and blocking traffic on both routes. Therefore, the Department recommends remediating the northerly variant using standard trail BMPs and discouraging future use on it.
* Map Location (F) “West of Winter Camp” – County staff recommends retaining the most used variant location (designated 1.0 on Map) as the preferred single alignment in Option 1, and eliminating the northerly variant (designated as 1.7 on Map) which is a major sediment source. The Department recommends remediating the non-preferred variant using standard trail BMPs and discouraging future use on it.
* Map Location (G) “Little Sluice Short Bypass” – County staff recommends eliminating this non-preferred variant route. This variant is located just to the northeast of Little Sluice Box proper, and is mostly used during the summer months to get around the difficult and often-blocked Little Sluice Box. Some maintenance work was done in 2003 by the Department, USFS, and FOTR. However, this variant is very dangerous during the winter and late spring months due to snow and ice on the steep slopes. The Department recommends remediating this non-preferred variant with standard trail BMPs and discouraging future use of it.
* Map Location (J) “Thousand Dollar Hill Bypass” – County staff recommends eliminating this non-preferred variant. It is variant off the Little Sluice Long Bypass, Map location H. This variant is a loose, rocky climb with several off-camber spots which is dangerous and presents sedimentation problems. The Department recommends working with the private landowner to remediate this non-preferred variant with standard trail BMPs and discouraging future use on it.
* Map Location (Q) “Alternative Route Near Placer County Line” – County staff recommends eliminating this non-preferred variant. This user created variant (designated as 1.11 on Map) is southwest of the main Rubicon Trail (1.0) and is not needed. Both the main route and non-preferred variant are located on privately-owned land. The Department recommends working with the private landowner to remediate the non-preferred variant using standard trail BMPs and discouraging future use on it.