Valley Springs, CA: Building on the Basics

Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew and the USACE team up on the trail

This lake is beautiful to experience in a boat or on a bike. The USACE is working on expanding it's trail system to make that possible for more people.

November 2004: IMBA's partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers brought Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew to a USACE site in Valley Springs, California. IMBA has worked with the USACE for a few years to diversify Corps recreational opportunities by educating rangers and volunteers in sustainable trailbuilding. During this visit Trail Care Crew leaders, Nat and Rachael Lopes instructed rangers and volunteers in the techniques they needed to learn most - maintenance on existing trails and new trail design. There may be opportunities to construct a new trail in the near future, so the Lopes' gave the volunteers a chance to practice during a trail layout clinic. Using pinflags and clinometers the volunteers designed a mock trail with sustainable grades and consistent flow. The 20 participants also learned more about long lasting trail maintenance techniques, which is needed on the existing trails in Valley Springs.