SAVE BURNEY FALLS
PROPOSED RAIL TO TRAIL PROJECT

SAVE BURNEY FALLS, Shasta County Public Health, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, and Pacific Crest Trail Association would like to invite you to join us for National Trails Day on June 7, 2008.

Please see the attached flyer and plan to spend a day enjoying the outdoors.

Download Newsletters: June 06 October 06 April 2007 February 2008
Further details and information, as well as prior issues of our Newsletters, are available upon request.

 
HISTORY AND INFORMATION

SAVE BURNEY FALLS. . .
          is a California non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation organized in January 1997 to advocate long-range community planning and to promote careful growth in the Burney Falls area.  SAVE BURNEY FALLS (SBF) purpose is to prevent exploitation and excess industrial growth in order to maintain the natural state of the environment for conservation and recreation.

PRIOR INVOLVEMENT:
          1997 - CURRENT
            SBF has extensive involvement with Shasta County and Hat Creek Construction, Inc. in the approval process of various Use Permits and Conditions of Operation. SBF meets on a regular basis with Hat Creek Construction, Inc.  SBF has also been involved with licensing Three Mountain Power, the relicensing of PG&E hydroelectric power plants on the Pit River, and representation on other committees and groups involving expansion, growth, and activities in the Burney Falls area.

SBF has participated in, financially assisted, and supported various Burney Chamber of Commerce events, Burney youth activities, and other community organizations.          

CURRENT PROJECTS:
2005 – CURRENT
In November 2005, SBF initiated interest in preserving a portion of the track being abandoned and discontinued by the McCloud Railway Company.  Each time we share our information, we receive suggestions and new ideas, so if you have heard prior details – it has changed by now.  Our first interest was a 5.0-mile portion of the track, along with a 3.5-mile trail right-a-way (Class III Bikeway – Bike Route) adjacent to California State Route 89 (SR 89), which would allow a recreational rail/trail (hiking, biking, jogging, walking, etc.) to connect the communities of Burney and Johnson Park to McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park.  The proposed rail/trail would also allow access to the Pacific Crest Trail and to Clark Creek Road, which connects to PG&E and PSEA campgrounds.

  

After further talks with the State Park people a second rail/trail would be accessible by utilizing a 3.25-mile portion of the track, which travels east of SR 89 and then north to the railroad bridge.  Combining the 5.0-mile portion of the track to the 3.25-mile portion of the track will make a continuous Class I Bikeway – Bike Path of 8.25-miles.  The major obstacle for this 8.25-mile route will be a pedestrian safety crossing at SR 89.       Depending upon access to the track, a third rail/trail may be available by utilizing Black Ranch Road (maintained by Shasta County) and connecting to the track where it proceeds to the Sierra Pacific mill.  This portion of the rail/trail would connect to the main rail/trail at the Berry Wye, and would provide a second alternative rail/trail north to the State Park or a continuous Burney Oblong-Loop trail of about 5.7-miles at the east end of Burney.  A fourth rail/trail would be accessible by connecting the rail/trail at the northern point with an access road or trail to the old SR 89 roadbed.  This fourth rail/trail would connect to a proposed trail being planned by the State Park and Cal Trans that will be placed on the roadbed of the old SR 89 when the new bridge on SR 89 is fully constructed.  This would allow a continuous State Park Loop trail of about 9.5-miles.  This portion of trail will also complete a loop at the north end of the rail/trail and allow a return to Burney via the State Park.  When combined together, the rail/trail will connect to hiking and fishing trails in the State Park and will allow hiking access to the Pacific Crest Trail at two locations.  The rail/trail will allow the State Park to increase bicycle trail access, as the State Park has only one short bike trail at the present time.  The rail/trail will access SR 299 and 89 (which will both have Class III Bikeway – Bike Routes once the SR 89 project is completed), and the rail/trail will link two scenic county roads, Black Ranch Road and Clark Creek Road. The rail/trail, with proper parking and security in various locations, will allow round-trip routes of 6 miles to over 24 miles.  Various combinations will allow one-way trips of over 12- miles, or miscellaneous routes for fewer miles.  Included in the proposed rail/trail will be the request for an additional 2.6 miles of new designated bicycle lanes on Black Ranch Road (Class II – Bikeway – Bike Lane).  This would start at the intersection of SR 299, which already has 1.6-miles of marked designated bike lane that terminates at this intersection.

 
PRESENT STATUS:
 
SBF has petitioned the Surface Transportation Board (STB) for interim trail use but is pursuing negotiations with the McCloud Railway Company.  Until last week, SBF request to the STB for issuance of a public use condition was being held in abeyance pending completion of two filings of Offer of Financial Assistance (OFA) to the McCloud Railway Company.  The McCloud Railway Company has delayed their abandonment two (2) times since their original request.   Their date of abandonment is now set for June 30, 2006, with additional delays anticipated due to a third filing of an OFA.  I mentioned until last week.  The good news is that the STB advised SBF that the “request is reasonable and will be granted,” if an OFA is not reached
There are only two (2) property owners adjacent to the 8.25-mile portion of the rail track.  Fruit Growers Supply Company owns approximately 5.25-miles of frontage and U.S.F.S. has about 3.0-miles.   We have met with both property owners and they have indicated a willingness to assist SBF and both are in favor of a trail.  Proper access agreements and environmental studies will take place as we proceed.
      An average of 250,000 people visit McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park each year, mainly during the period of June to September.  Because there is only one bicycle trail in the State Park and few bike paths in the Burney area, it is estimated that at present, there are only 600 to 700 bike riders a year.  Many bike riders camp or stay in the Burney area and drive to Lassen Park, Mt. Shasta, Fall River, or other locations to bike.  Many people use the bike lane on Main Street in Burney for walking, biking, and wheelchairs.
  
 
ITEMS OF INTEREST:
 
McCloud Railway Company currently operates 80 miles of track east from McCloud, California to Burney, California.  The railroad celebrated 100 years of existence in 1997 and 10 years as an independent railroad in 2002.  In addition to a very popular dinner train, which operates year round, McCloud Railway Company operates an excursion train partway between McCloud and Mt. Shasta City.
      

John (Pops) Carlton, of Carlton Enterprises, Inc., purchased their present property direct from McCloud Railway Company after serving as the Burney Train Station Manager for over thirty years. Members of California Fruit Growers Exchange (now Sunkist Growers) organized Fruit Growers Supply Company (FGS) in 1907, in order to operate its own timber supply and provide wooden boxes for the citrus industry.   In 1910, when a loan to a lumber mill defaulted, FGS took possession of forestland, a logging railroad, several sawmills and a box factory in California.  In 1944, FGS purchased forestland in the Burney area and in 1954 gave the railroad company, at that time, harvesting rights to Burney timber.  On July 3, 1955, official opening ceremonies took place for the completion of the rail track as it is today.  The town of Burney provided the final spike for the track. Today, FGS manages over 360,000 acres of forest in California, much of it in the northern part of the state. The U.S. Forest Service, Lassen National Forest, is one of two property owners adjacent to the rail track from the area north of Carlton’s property to SR 89.  FGS is the other property owner. California State Route 89 (SR 89) has received the prestigious All American Road designation and is part of the Volcanic Legacy Byway.  Of only 22 roads nationwide, SR 89 is one of five roads in California to receive the designation.  The Byway takes travelers from Crater Lake National Park (Oregon), past Mt. Shasta to Mt. Lassen and Lassen Volcanic National Park.