Annual Report 2007

Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship
P.O. Box 454
Downieville, CA. 95936

Annual Report 2007

Prepared by Greg Williams
President, SBTS Board of DirectorsPresident’s Message

Two thousand-seven was an incredible year for us. Our network of members, working partners, sponsors and volunteers is at an all-time high. Our Board continues to lead the way in our creative and unique category of trail restoration and community enhancement. Every year we push the bar higher, and every year we see that there is more work to be done. As State and Federal budgets are pinched, our work to maintain our trails gets tougher. Fortunately we have an amazing Board that gets even more creative and energized, finding new sources of funding and generating new programs that help us towards our goals of sustainability of our natural resources, our trails and our recreation-based economy.

We’re here to protect our trails and our environment, and to guarantee long-term, responsible access to these trails for all user groups, for generations. We’ll do this through our grass roots efforts, leading edge programs, and with the support of our community, our land managers, our members and our most valuable resource, our volunteers.

To achieve this vision, we will be focusing on 8 key areas:
creation of local jobs
reduction of erosion and watershed contamination
education and youth oriented programs
increase volunteerism and membership
expand the Trail Adoption program
enhance recreational tourism throughout Plumas and Sierra Counties
protect our natural, historical, archaeological and economic resources
improve recreational opportunities

It is important for you to know that the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship continues to be on solid and stable financial ground. Our balance sheet is strong and our financial controls are tight. This report will provide updates on our work, allowing you to see that we’re focused and committed, and that we’re in this for the long haul. Thank you for your continued interest and support of our organization, and for partnering with us in our mission.

- Greg Williams, President

SBTS 2007 LIST OF CREDITS & DEBITS

BEGINNING BALANCE - $7,030
TOTAL CREDITS - $103,158
TOTAL DEBITS - $93,241
ENDING BALANCE- $16,947

LIST OF CREDITS
CONTRIBUTIONS AND GIFTS - $5,819
EVENTS/FUNDRAISERS - $16,350
MEMBERSHIPS - $24,589
GRANT FUNDS - $56,400

LIST OF DEBITS
CONTRACTOR SERVICES – $69,463.34
TRAIL BUILDING MATERIALS - $2,402
TOOLS & EQUIPMENT - $2,388
PRINTED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS - $1,357
TRAILHEAD SIGNS - $260
SUPPLIES FOR VOLUNTEER WORK CREWS - $5,567
FUNDRAISING - $1,223
RENT - $6,456
UTILITIES - $1,450
OFFICE SUPPLIES - $475
POSTAGE - $539
TRAVEL - $1,661

Major SBTS Accomplishments in 2007

Rehabilitation and realignment of the Bear Lakes Loop in the Lakes Basin Recreation Area, Plumas National Forest. This project was funded through the Plumas County Resource Advisory Committee, and was focused on the reduction of erosion and watershed contamination. Work included the realignment of the existing trail to reduce grade, installation of drains and rolling dips, and construction of numerous rock walls to allow for tread off-slope.

Repaired a 200 foot long landslide on the North Yuba Trail between Goodyears Bar and Indian Valley. By utilizing a motorized rock drill, a mechanized blasting tool and a whole lot of manpower, we reconstructed a 4’ wide bench into a wall of slate rock. The technical rock-work made passage much safer, and received an “excellent” rating by the North Yuba Ranger District, Tahoe National Forest.

Continued construction of the North Yuba Extension Trail, which will one day connect Downieville to Goodyears Bar. Work on this trail began in 1998 and has been constructed almost entirely by SBTS volunteers and our paid Trail Crew. Of the 7 miles to be built, there is now only 1 mile remaining before the two historic mining towns are connected.

Rehabilitated over 5 miles of high-use trails in the Downieville Trail System by installing drains and rolling dips, off-sloping trail tread to 2%, and reworking some erosive areas to better handle motorized and non-motorized wheeled traffic.

Raised over $13,000 during the Downieville Classic mountain bike festival, by offering prize drawings and selling new memberships.

Hosted 12 Trail Daze volunteer work days and contributed over 4,500 hours of volunteer labor to National Forest lands and to our local community.

We applied for and were allocated over $100,000 in grant money from Federal, State, County and Private sources to help reduce erosion and maintain our trail system.

We received a grant for $5,000 from REI to be utilized in the development of our Trail Teacher and Youth Program.

Trail Adoption program.
The highly successful program is still growing and is allowing the SBTS to fund the on-going maintenance of high-use trails in the Downieville and Lakes Basin areas.

Mills Peak Trail.
We completed the design, mapping and environmental work on Mills Peak Trail, located in Plumas County. This 7 mile trail will provide connectivity from the Graeagle Community Pathway to the Lakes Basin Recreation Area and the Pacific Crest Trail. The design, mapping and environmental work was paid for through a grant from Plumas County to help enhance recreational tourism.

Community Pathways.
We secured California Proposition 40 funds for the construction of the Graeagle Community Pathway, which will one day connect the communities of Graeagle, Clio, Whitehawk, Calpine and Portola. The Pathway will also provide connectivity to both frontcountry and backcountry trails, connecting communities to nearby recreation areas.

Mountain Epics.
We successfully hosted Mountain Epic #8 and #9. The Bullards Bar Epic in the spring and Lakes Basin Epic in the fall. The two events saw record numbers, and with the addition of the Youth Program more families are starting to participate.

SBTS Board of Directors:
Tim Gott, Debbie Bonovich, Brett Marty, Ron Heard, Greg Williams, Nica Lorber, Greg Carter, Wayne Hoffman and Chris Feucht.