Editorial: Protect Rural Placer is against Hidden Falls Expansion; here's why

Hundreds of families (not just a few) are part of Protect Rural Placer, a grassroots organization that is dedicated to protecting and preserving rural Placer County and opposing the Hidden Falls Expansion Project. We care about the environment and want to protect wildlife and habitats. We value conservation and open space. We understand recreation is not the equivalent of conservation. The good news is that Placer Land Trust preserves that are designated as part of the proposed Hidden Falls Expansion are already protected and can never be divided or turned into ranchettes. Protect Rural Placer cares about the demands this trails expansion will place on our first responders. Did you know technical rescue calls in this county have been going up by 5% a year and, according to Cal Fire Chief Brian Estes, 25% of those calls are to the current Hidden Falls Park? Many require multiple agencies, even helicopter services. The American River Canyon accounts for 50% of all rescues … so combined, the greater Auburn area has a staggering 75% of the entire county's rescue calls. Tripling the size of Hidden Falls will logically increase rescue calls dramatically. There will be a need for more staff and resources, and who will foot the bill for that? Will they come to us in North Auburn/Lincoln and ask for another add-on to our property taxes? Protect Rural Placer cares about agriculture, we value our farmers and ranchers and their ag endeavors, large and small. Both the Placer County Farm Bureau and Tahoe Cattlemen's Association oppose this trails expansion project because they know it is detrimental to agriculture. We value recreation. We believe that by continuing the docent-led hikes and activities, it protects and preserves the balance of nature, agriculture and recreation, as well as ensuring the safety and security of the residents. Protect Rural Placer members have been told we're selfish. Did you know there are already 900 miles of trails in Placer County and hundreds of miles of new trails that are on approved project lists? These projects still need $40 million in funding, and then there will be the added costs for staffing, maintenance and ongoing fuel reduction. And now, trails groups are asking for another trails project that will cost millions of dollars, so they can have even more trails. North Auburn and Lincoln are rural ag communities, and the proposed trails expansion undermines everything the thousands of residents value and love about their community. Learn more at ProtectRuralPlacer.com and please join us in speaking up and protecting and preserving rural Placer County.