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The Water Trail Plan. The WT Plan (September 2007), currently in final draft form, is a
<br />guide to trail implementation for the agencies and organizations that will develop and
<br />manage WT access points and programs, as well as trail proponents and other
<br />stakeholders involved in trail implementation. The development of the WT Plan was led
<br />by BCDC and benefited from the active participation of a broad-based steering
<br />committee, stakeholders, and experts on specific topics. All background reports, meeting
<br />notes, and the final draft Plan itself are posted on BCDC's website at www.bcdc.ca.trov.
<br />The WT Plan includes policies and procedures that define how the trail will take shape
<br />over time by guiding trail planning, development, and management on organizational,
<br />programmatic, and trailhead-specific levels. The WT Plan and its maps may also be
<br />reviewed in their entirely at www.scc.ca.vov. The Plan will be finalized when it is
<br />accepted by the Coastal Conservancy board along with the final form of this Draft EIR.
<br />Basic Access Needs. Basic access onto the water consists of a place to launch, whether it
<br />is a beach, a dock, ramp, tidal steps, piers, a floating dock, or other means. Parking is
<br />usually another essential component of access for human-powered boating and
<br />boardsailing recreationists. Where feasible, accommodations should be made for those
<br />with mobility impairments or other limitations (Americans with Disabilities Act).
<br />Access can be enhanced with a variety of improvements and services, such as restrooms,
<br />boat drop-off parking zones, equipment storage, boat houses, transient docking, overnight
<br />accommodations (such as a hostel, campsite, historic ship, hotel, or bed and breakfast),
<br />rigging areas, fresh water for washing gear, individual or group picnic areas, a restaurant
<br />or cafe, rental concessions, trash and recycling containers, bicycle racks, lighting,
<br />emergency phones, landscaping, trail system connections, and trailhead wayfinding signs
<br />from the local street network, and safety information and regulatory signs.
<br />Project Implementation. The State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) is leading the
<br />implementation and search for funding for the Water Trail. As such, SCC is leading an
<br />environmental review of the project, consistent with the California Environmental
<br />Quality Act (CEQA), and will circulate a revised Draft Environmental Impact Report
<br />(DEIR) to the public in early 2009. After the EIR is finalized, a Project Management
<br />Team and Advisory Committee will begin the process of actually designating sites to
<br />become official trailheads of the Water Trail.
<br />Funding. The Water Trail Act did not legislate funding for the Water Trail, so SCC, the
<br />Department of Boating and Waterways, and other public agencies investing in the Water
<br />Trail need to find funding on their own. SCC currently has funds from Propositions 50
<br />and 84 that could be applied toward Water Trail projects if they consist of capital
<br />improvements.
<br />San Leandro Marina. The San Leandro Marina is one of 57 "High Opportunity Sites"
<br />listed in the Water Trail Plan, meaning that is appears to need nothing more than an
<br />educational sign to be added to the site to establish it as one of the Water Trail sites. The
<br />Final EIR should cover all environmental review needed, but the Project Management
<br />Team will take one last look at the site during the Trailhead Designation process to be
<br />sure.
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