CRACK REPAIRS ON THE RIVER MOUNTAINS LOOP TRAIL – 0CT. 15-16TH

 

 

 

Cracks in Trail

October 8th, 2009 -

  We have been advised by the City of Henderson that on Oct. 15th & 16th a contractor will be on the River Mountains Loop Trail repairing cracks in the asphalt. The work will be done from the Lake Mead Parkway underpass south toward the reservoir area on top the three sisters, or mile marker 8.5 south to 6.5.  

 

 Those who ride this area on a regular basis are well aware of the large cracks that have appeared over the last year in this area. I’m not sure of the reason, but my guess is the underlying base was not thick enough to hold the asphalt in place so it moved with the extreme heat this past summer.

 

 

 

Large crack in trail as wide as a $20 bill

 

 

 

 

Trail Trash in the Bag March 21st

Trail Clean up March 2009

March 26, 2009 -  Saturday morning March 21st was a clear warm pleasant spring day. Some hundred plus volunteers showed up at Equestrain Park for what has become an annual River Mountains Loop Trail clean up.  The group split up into three groups and cleaned three different areas along the trail. There was also a Boy Scout Troop/cub pack which worked within the Equestrain Park picking up trash.

I had volunteered to work in group#3 which went to a new area of trail at the City of Henderson – National Park Service boundary near Lake Las Vegas. The lands are actually managed by the Bureau of Reclamation.  This area was an old rock gravel pit/mining area, target shooting, illegal camping, etc. and has not been clean up in 10-yrs easy. 

We had a great group of 16 hard working people including 11 Navy recruits soon to ship off to boot camp. We probably covered the shortest distance of any group, but collected the most heavy duty trash.  We picked up buckets of glass, concrete, tires, railroad ties, car parts, mattresess, tree limbs, and much much more.

We really appreciate our trail volunteers.  THANKS A MILLION!!!!

Henderson Schedules Trail Clean up event March 21st, 2009

 

March 9, 2009 – UPDATE: Clean-up March 21st. , 2009 8:00 a.m. to noon; sign up at Equestrian Park. Come enjoy the desert trail and all the spring colors. Questions call 267-4050.

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Dec. 30, 2008 – City of Henderson Parks & Recreation Dept. has scheduled an annual trail clean up project along the River Mountains Loop Trail for Saturday March 21st.  We are looking for areas along the trail in need of cleaning. We usually break up into two or three groups of about 20+ and cover as much area as possible. The volunteer project runs from about 7:30 a.m. to noon. Check the Parks event calendar for actual times and location.

 

 

 One key element we need to remember this year, is for volunteers to stay within the work permit areas. The city pulls a permit with the Bureau of Reclamation  for a special event. The permit puts limits on the area to be worked during the clean up.  Special needs areas outside the trail corridor will be done by the City of Henderson with BOR permits.
Things to bring would include work gloves, good boots or walking shoes, a five-gallon bucket(makes for easy collection of smaller trash items ex. glass, bottles, cans etc). City provides trash bags, grippers, some gloves, some buckets, water to drink and snacks, transportation to and from the work areas via bus.

 

Safety on clean up projects is number one. We hold a tailgate safety talk before heading into the field. Broken glass, fire works, needles/drugs, unexploded gun shells, and nails in boards always watched for. We also need to be alert to wildlife such as snakes, spiders and desert tortoise that may live in and under some trash items we may encounter. We leave all wildlife alone…do not touch.

Picking up trash along trail

 

Snow & Ice on trail ???

Dec. 18 & 19 – YES SNOW AND ICE ON TRAIL!  I can’t believe it either.  Bikers, joggers and hikers should beware of snow and ice on the trail.  Out in open trail should be clearing, but in shadows snow and ice could remain for several days.  Portions of the River Mountains near Railroad Pass experienced snow depths 8″ and more.  Slow down and be safe. 

If you got snow/trail photos please share will all.

Happy Trails are Safety trails…..rmltman

Detention Basin Construction Impacts Trail

May 5th -2009 – It was noted during a safety tour of trail in Henderson that the tortiose fencing discussed below has been moved back from the trail where it is no long a safety issue.  The truck crossing now has stop signs up and there are lots of trucks hauling gravel on an hourly basis so beware.

March 2, 2009 - Over the last week or so fencing has gone up along the trail for about 100-yards. BEWARE this could be a safety issue. We are working through the City and the contractor to be sure all safety measures are in place. The tortiose fencing has also blocked off an ATV off-road vehicle path to the foothills which has been pushing them on to the trail. Please notify HPD if you see this happening at 267-5000(option #1 – give description and direction).

Tortoise fence edge of trail 2/09

January 20th, 2009 - A brief update. At last weeks Planning Commission meeting the variance was approved to allow the rock crushing operation to move ahead. Commissioners found it less of an impact to crush on site than remove material through the neighborhoods.  Rock crushing activity to start Feb. and last up to 18 months.  My hope is they are good neighbors for the trail and its users. Lets keep our eyes open…

December 10th, 2008 - Starting week of 12/15/08 construction equipment will start arriving and setting up for the construction of Henderson’s Northeast C-1 Detention Basin located just east of the trail in the foothills of the River Mountains. Construction activity will be near mile marker 6.5 and 7.0.   The contruction period is for 15 months or until about March 2010.  “So beware of equipment crossing the trail and rocks on the trail”

The contractor is “Capriati Construction Corp.”  Along with the detention basin there will be a rock crusher on site processing aggregate for the work. Per maps available from the City a channel will run along the foothills east of the trail to collect run-off from the mountains sending it to the detention basin; from there an outfall will go under the trail in undergo round pipes to the C-1 channel following the Ithica St. alignment.  Ithica St. is supposed to be the ingress/egress access for this project.

The project manager for the City Public Works assures us that they will keep the area watered down for dust and will clear the trail daily of any rocks.  If problems develop or the trail deteriorates please let us know by calling either 267-4050 or 365-2191.

 

Detention basin Map 2008

K-Rails installed along the trail….Why?

Equestrain Bridge K-rail installation

K-Rails installed for safety – This segment of the River Mountains Loop Trail was and is being abused by illegal ATV & Motorcycle activity. Signs disappeared faster than the City could install them and enforcement was not working. Trail users were at risk from jumping of the bridge embankments.  I see this as a short term fix, while better solutions are found. 

In the future more informative signs will be installed along this trail segment along with regular enforcement and it is my hope the K-rails can be replaced with less intrusive measures…ie. large desert rocks, post & cable along with native habitat restoration.

The City of Henderson and B.O.R. along with RMLT members are reviewing other areas that need K-rail placement in order to bring safety to the trail from illegal use.  The trail is being used more and more by local families expecting a safe outing; plus it has become a tourist attraction for out of town visitors looking to recreate off the strip. 

RMLT K-rails installation - User safety

Rocks on Trail at road crossings

Street bike riders need to beware of rocks on trail at road crossings. Trail is swept once each week, but rocks appear daily.

The bulk of rocks found on trail result form illegal vehicle (ATV) activity on trail. I’m encouraging Trail Watch volunteers who are able to take a street broom with them and sweep rocks off trail when found. Parks maintenance can only get to trail once a week to sweep….I encourage all users to kick rocks off trail while walking and/or hiking, it will help all users have a safer experience.

January 26th 2009 – Time for an update on rocks on the trail. Vehicles riding on the trail are still the biggest problem.  Rain run off adds small rocks and dirt on to trail and dogs.  City of Henderson can only sweep every other week or so do to lay-offs and cut backs. We the users need to pick it up and sweep and remove rocks whenever possible.  The photo below was a rock/gravel problem I ran across Saturday Jan. 24th, north of the Equestrian park bridge. We swept the problem.  We need more eyes and ears out there.  Trail Watch ph 267-4050.

Sweeping rocks off trail 12409