Marin County — Caltrans is scheduled to close the bike lane in the Westbound direction of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (I-580) on Sunday the following mornings to perform sweeping and general maintenance Shuttle services will be provided at the Stenmark Drive Bridge entrance and at Vista Point in San Rafael for those impacted by the closure Speed limit signs will be posted as 40 mph in construction areas Caltrans will turn on Changeable Message Signs (CMS) to notify the public ahead of time As it winds through red rock country northwest of Canyonlands National Park Drought is again taking hold across Utah and that could spell trouble for the wildlife that rely on the river such as native fish that get stranded in puddles when the flow stops “Picture being in a little pool and never being able to move Your temperature starts getting higher,” said Tyler Arnold an aquatic ecologist with the Bureau of Land Management’s Green River District you've got multiple things working against those fish to be able to survive.” with the small Colorado River tributary going dry more frequently and for longer periods than it did historically the stream gauge near State Route 24 in Emery County recorded no flow for roughly six weeks straight Fifteen years ago when Utah State University watershed sciences professor Phaedra Budy began to study the river there are years where the entire lower 40 kilometers of the San Rafael are completely bone dry.” “These fishes have evolved over millions of years to deal with extreme drought and extreme flood,” she said “The problem in places like the San Rafael is that this extreme drying is happening more often and to a much greater extent than it would have over their evolutionary history.” growing cities and thirsty farmland continue to fight for pieces of a shrinking pie and there often isn’t much leftover for ecosystems “Now in light of drought and climate change we simply are seeing more overallocation and more demand for water,” Budy said “And more fights between humans and fish for this very Overuse has also transformed how the river looks Because so much of it is being dammed and diverted for farms Budy said there is no longer a snowmelt flood in the spring That annual rush of water generated the complexity of the river’s historically diverse flow patterns The channel would split into braided streams on the flood plain and create a variety of habitats that fish love from calm deep pools used for refuge to rocky riffles used for feeding much of the San Rafael appears more like a homogenous canal than a diverse refuge — when it has enough water to flow at all that’s a canary-in-the-coalmine moment for the whole river environment “Fish in particular are indicators of ecosystem health,” Budy said if you have a healthy native fish population it tells you that you have a healthy ecosystem.” By 2009, these native fish were found in just half of their historic range Some species have now seen range declines up to 85% The magnitude is so great that she worries Utah is not making large enough strides to turn that tide. With federal funding freezes and the Trump administration’s push to limit spending on environmental efforts she’s concerned the small existing restoration projects could see some of their support evaporate but it can still be a complex process that takes time to pay off In the meantime, scientists are testing out ways to adapt the river to its new “We're not getting the water regime back that we had historically,” said Cassie Mellon who leads the aquatic resource program with the BLM in Salt Lake City we need to figure out what we can do with the current water regime and the expected water regime to maintain something for these rivers.” On a bank of the San Rafael in Emery County Mellon and Arnold pointed out some of that work in action A line of wooden poles peak above the shallow water with branches tangled behind them It’s an example of a post-assisted log structure meant to mimic how beaver dams and natural debris historically shaped the river’s flow that can help recreate some of the plentiful dips and pools that fish thrived in years ago “That's the question we're trying to answer,” Arnold said “Will these man-made structures that we're creating hold fish during periods of low flow?” The structures aren’t meant to be permanent The idea is for beavers to take over as the river regains some semblance of its former self In 2010, a natural sediment plug blocked the main channel causing it to spill out into the floodplain scientists saw beavers return on their own and achieve restoration results beyond what man-made projects have accomplished riparian habitat along that stretch had increased by 230% and it had the most diverse flow patterns of anywhere on the river For the people trying to give these native ecosystems a better future it offers some hope that the San Rafael and its wildlife aren’t beyond saving This story was produced as part of the Colorado River Collaborative KSL TV photographer Mark Wetzel contributed to this story 2025 at 9:32 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Protests are planned all over the U.S CA — Locals across Marin County are protesting what they are calling an authoritarian takeover by President Donald Trump on May 1 at several locations Protests taking part of the “May Day Strong: We Are The Many” are planned in Novato Here are the times and locations for each Marin County protest: The protest organizers have stated they are putting families over fortunes healthcare over hedge funds and housing over homelessness Join us,” the protest organizers stated on mobilize.us They are advising that children do not attend protests on overpasses Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Marin County — Due to electrical issues Caltrans is not using the Lane Use Signs on the Eastbound direction of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge on Interstate 580 (I-580) Drivers can observe the overhead Changeable Message Signs which state that the right lane can be used during 2 p.m The right lane also is open on Saturdays and Sundays There is no estimate when the Lane Use Signs will be active again Slow for the Cone Zone and Be Work Zone Alert Robert Prinz from Bike East Bay and Warren Wells from the Marin County Bicycle Coalition contributed to this post with support from a broad range of local groups plus statewide and national advocates have been fighting for over a year to keep the bike path on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge open 24/7 The Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) will hold a final vote to decide the fate of the path on Thursday 2025 — two weeks later than the original date CalBike will attend the April 3 hearing and testify, and we hope you will, too, no matter where you live. If you’ve ever ridden over this bridge, you know the value of having bike access connecting the East Bay and Marin County. You can testify virtually; sign up to be notified when the item comes up. Update: The hearing date has been postponed twice and the date for the new hearing hasn’t been announced. Sign up to get notified of the new hearing date It’s crucial for supporters of bicycle and pedestrian access to this vital bay crossing to have our voices heard CalBike doesn’t usually get involved in campaigns for local infrastructure other than offering support when asked Our local partners are excellent at this advocacy and know their territory better; plus we don’t have the capacity to weigh in on the many local projects throughout California we feel the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge fight has statewide implications and calls for support from allies around California we signed onto a letter in support of the path with many other organizations have worked for decades to gain bicycle access to all of the Bay Area’s toll bridges CalBike has supported measures to keep the bicycle and pedestrian pathways on our bridges toll-free to ensure the broadest access making toll bridges free permanently for people walking and biking Securing a path on the Richmond-San Rafael was a decades-long effort placed in what was formerly a breakdown lane opened in the fall of 2019 for a four-year pilot period It has proven immensely popular and spurred cities on both sides of the bridge to upgrade their bicycle infrastructure to improve access Automated counters installed on the bridge show that more than 400,000 people have walked or ridden across the bridge since the path opened and other destinations across the bridge — trips that would likely be by car without the bike path. For more information on the project, visit the Bike East Bay or Marin County Bicycle Coalition websites Opponents of the path started a movement to get rid of the path on Mondays through Thursdays converting it into a car breakdown shoulder by moving an existing zipper barrier The shoulder would be converted back into a biking and walking path only Thursday evening through Sunday evening under this plan. The plan includes a shuttle for people who want to cross with a bike it will only come every half hour outside commute hours People biking and walking would have continuous access to the Richmond-San Rafael crossing for just three days out of the week Those favoring adding more traffic on the bridge cite increased pollution in Richmond and worsening traffic even though the air quality study they point to does not show an impact from the path Emissions data has shown reduced pollution on the upper deck where the trail was added but increased pollution during winter months on the lower deck with the additional car lane Caltrans data shows only a slight increase in commute times Travel speeds on the upper deck of the bridge are lower since the path was added and there’s been a significant reduction in collisions on that level while the number of crashes has increased on the lower deck where a third car lane was added. attempting to “fix” car congestion by making it easier to drive will lead to more traffic no matter how much people want to wish it away Bicycle and pedestrian access to California’s bridges is crucial Bridges are vital links between communities that can’t be replicated on surface streets where bridges provide connections across the snaking arms of the San Francisco Bay The Richmond-San Rafael pathway pilot has been a success People bike and walk across the span for recreation and commuting we need more options for active transportation CalBike is showing up to speak up for bridges that serve everyone. We hope you will too An official website of the United States government Open Search PRICE, Utah — The Bureau of Land Management today issued a final travel management plan for the San Rafael Swell travel management area designating the availability of routes on public lands for off-highway vehicles (OHVs) The area spans more than 1.1 million acres in Emery County and approximately 44,000 acres in Sevier County. The BLM’s selected alternative increases the mileage open for OHV use and provides a variety of sustainable recreation opportunities for all visitors and meets access needs throughout the San Rafael Swell while minimizing the potential for user conflicts and damage to natural and cultural resources the area draws visitors with its mesmerizing blend of rugged beauty and outdoor adventure characterized by towering red rock formations serves as a destination for many diverse outdoor enthusiasts was developed after consideration of more than 6,000 comments from the public and stakeholders 1,355 miles of designated routes are open to motorized travel with 141 miles limited to certain types and sizes of vehicles The approved plan opens an additional 67 miles of designated routes compared to current management and roughly 240 miles of currently closed or undesignated routes are now designated for public motorized use Roughly 158 miles of previously open routes are now closed to motorized travel Closed routes are only closed to motorized travel and remain accessible to the public for nonmotorized activities Route closures were made to minimize and avoid negative impacts from motorized travel in sensitive areas particularly in areas with cultural resources Complete information, including the final environmental assessment, route maps, and route analysis, are available at the BLM National NEPA Register. Photos for publication can be accessed at our Flickr account. The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations An official website of the Department of the Interior Contacts:Laura Peterson, Staff Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) (801) 236-3762; (laura@suwa.org) Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org Salt Lake City, UT – Yesterday, the Idaho-based BlueRibbon Coalition and others sued the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over the recently finalized San Rafael Swell Travel Management Plan Below is a statement from SUWA Staff Attorney Laura Peterson and additional information “The motorized recreation groups filing this lawsuit are bound and determined to make Utah’s remarkable San Rafael Swell nothing more than a playground for off-road vehicles and side-by-sides; a place where it’s impossible to find peace and quiet We’re not going to stand by and let that happen,” said Laura Peterson “While BLM’s recently-completed San Rafael Swell travel plan got many things wrong one thing it did right was not opening roughly 650 miles of so-called “routes” in the Swell to motorized vehicles These 650 miles include trails that were created in the past fifteen or so years through illegal motorized use and are located in stream corridors and wash bottoms run through cultural sites and lead to users causing real and serious environmental damage Others are simply lines on a map that do not exist on the ground.” In June 2024 the BLM released a draft motorized vehicle travel management plan and accompanying environmental assessment which analyzed the varying impacts of each alternative travel network under consideration only Alternative B would have provided some balance between motorized recreation and non-motorized recreation while also minimizing damage to natural and cultural resources Alternative B would have allowed motorized vehicles on nearly 1,200 miles of routes in the Swell ensuring access to motorized and non-motorized recreation opportunities while also preserving this stunning backcountry area. In the final plan (released Dec the BLM selected Alternative E which designates nearly 1,500 miles of routes opening a substantial number of new routes to motorized vehicles. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is a nonprofit organization with members and supporters from around the country dedicated to protecting America’s redrock wilderness. From offices in Moab, Salt Lake City, and Washington, DC, our team of professionals defends the redrock, organizes support for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, and stewards this world-renowned landscape. Learn more at www.suwa.org. Our popular “Protect Wild Utah” yard signs (in both English and Spanish) are available for pickup at SUWA’s Salt Lake City office and at many of our local events. To arrange an office pickup time (between 9-5, M-F), please call (801) 486-3161 or email us at info@suwa.org ©2025 Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance Marin County — Caltrans is scheduled to close the bike lane on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (I-580) on Sunday the following morning to perform sweeping and general maintenance work Caltrans turned on Changeable Message Signs (CMS) to notify the public on March 7 For real-time traffic, click on Caltrans QuickMap: http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ 2025 at 11:19 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The playground is still open while phase one of the construction is completed CA — The City of San Rafael started improvements on Peacock Gap Park playground Monday This phase of the construction will be to build an accessible parking stall at the end of Peacock Drive and to replace concrete next to the stall the main paved entrance to the park from Peacock Drive will not be accessible but park goers can still enter from the gravel walkway on Peacock Drive and Biscayne Drive The construction staging will be in the parking lot off of Biscayne Drive and they plan to reopen the walkway by Friday The rest of the construction planned will be to replace the aging playground structure The planning and design will cost $130,000 and the construction will cost $925,000 Peacock Gap Park currently has playgrounds The Library and Recreation Department used money from Measure A to fund this project All the planned construction is expected to be completed in July the City of San Rafael hosted an outreach event to collect design feedback for the park And a community survey was conducted from June 15 to July 1 Marin County — Caltrans is scheduled to close the bike lane and one lane in the Westbound direction of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (I-580) on Friday the following morning to perform cable maintenance This press release has been archived. If an accessible version is needed, please contact communications@washoecounty.org by Candee Ramos | Nov 27 Following the approval of the Master Plan for Rancho San Rafael Regional Park Washoe County received a number of concerns related to its impact on the longevity of The Great Reno Balloon Race (GRBR) After good faith conversations with GRBR on Monday officials at Washoe County have agreed to revisit the master plan at the next Open Space and Regional Park Commission meeting to be held in January Both Washoe County and GRBR are committed to working together to address the festival’s ability to host future safe events at the park while balancing the needs of all park users Both GRBR and County officials are confident that the plan will represent the best possible future for the park on behalf of its 3.5 million annual visitors This past spring, a robust community outreach campaign was implemented by Washoe County to capture community and stakeholder input for a proposed Rancho San Rafael Regional Park Master Plan Update The goal of park update is to balance the changing and diverse needs of the community at large taking into account that a Master Plan Update hadn’t been completed in over 30 years and had not kept current with our growing community Over the course of creating the proposed Rancho San Rafael Regional Park Master Plan Update,18 stakeholder groups were identified for a seven-month public and stakeholder engagement opportunity which was well-received with over 4,500 community contributions to the plan These recommendations by stakeholders and the public were implemented into the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park Master Plan Update that was presented and adopted at the November 20 Open Space and Regional Parks Commission meeting In light of the concerns made by The Great Reno Balloon Race the addition of an agenda item to revisit the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park Master Plan Update will be placed onto the Parks Commission’s regularly scheduled January meeting to discuss stakeholder and community concerns prior to taking any further action Washoe County recognizes that Rancho San Rafael and the programs that it hosts are beloved by the community and will continue to work with the Great Reno Balloon Race and other stakeholders to take public input as the Master Plan Update is implemented Copyright WashoeLife X Are you interested in a rewarding career in law enforcement? Join the SRPD team. There are multiple positions available Start your career here: www.SRPDCareers.com The press release you are looking for is not available You will be redirected to the list in a few seconds.. File a report Contact Forms Join Our Team Transparency A portion of Rancho San Rafael Regional Park is temporarily closed due to playground construction The county says the dinosaur and log playground in the Nevada Farms and Families area is still open Washoe County says crews are building a new all-inclusive main playground at the park - and the area will be closed "to the public likely through midsummer." Until then, the County says the dinosaur and log playground in the Nevada Farms and Families area is open and the BBQ picnic areas are accessible for use which you can see at the Parks and Open Space website section. Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device There will be "sundae" vibes on a Saturday as Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) follows its regular public graduation ceremony for guide dog team graduates on Saturday, May 10, 2025 with a special ice cream social to recruit new puppy raisers at its campus in San Rafael The event is a "pawfect" combo for families interested in becoming volunteer puppy raisers an information session will introduce potential volunteers to the different ways they can participate in GDB’s puppy-raising program which will be followed by a puppy-play session for attendees The graduation ceremony takes place on May 10 from 1:30–3 pm and a puppy-play session and ice cream social from 3:20 to 4 pm The event takes place at GDB's headquarters at 350 Los Ranchitos Road in San Rafael Volunteer puppy raisers care for puppies from 2 to 15 months nurturing them and teaching them good manners while exposing them to a range of socialization activities to prepare them in their journeys to eventually become guide dogs GDB has several ways for the community to get involved with puppy raising — from its traditional puppy-raising program to its hybrid model of online trainings and in-person workshops from the organization’s expert puppy-raising team To RSVP for the ice cream social, please visit GDB Puppy Raising Ice Cream Social SponsorsPromote your business here 2025 at 10:51 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Each year the Arts Unite Us program features work from students with disabilities CA — Marin County students with disabilities’ art will be on display at the annual “Outside the Lines” show opening Friday at the YIA Gallery Youth in Arts will host the opening exhibit that celebrates the limitless imagination of students with disabilities and is aimed to empower students to connect with others through visual art Youth in Arts has provided arts education to Marin’s Special Day Classrooms and has offered inclusive learning opportunities for those of all abilities the Youth in Arts “Arts Unite Us” program matches teaching artists with more than 30 classrooms This year’s exhibit features dynamic and colorful displays that invite visitors to see the way these young artists perceive the world Salt Lake City, UT – On December 31st, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released the final San Rafael Swell Travel Management Plan Below is a statement from SUWA Staff Attorney Laura Peterson and additional information. which once again prioritizes motorized vehicles at the expense of natural and cultural resources in the San Rafael Swell The Bureau of Land Management had the opportunity to finally strike a balance between motorized recreation and preservation of this incredible landscape but chose not to,” said Laura Peterson “The Swell is a beloved southern Utah landscape – one with endless opportunities for hiking It should be known for its spectacular views ###The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is a nonprofit organization with members and supporters from around the country dedicated to protecting America’s redrock wilderness. From offices in Moab, Salt Lake City, and Washington, DC, our team of professionals defends the redrock, organizes support for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, and stewards this world-renowned landscape. Learn more at www.suwa.org. Moab Sun News A lawsuit challenging the Bureau of Land Management’s recent San Rafael Swell Travel Management Plan was filed on March 6 by the BlueRibbon Coalition Sage Riders Motorcycle Club and a member of the two groups with legal standing At issue is the BLM’s December 2024 decision to close 665 miles of motorized routes in the 1.15 million-acre management area which includes recently designated wilderness and the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area “Our members submitted thousands of comments in favor of keeping the remaining multiple-use lands open for recreation but BLM leaders ignored our feedback and ignored the law,” said BlueRibbon Coalition Executive Director Ben Burr a member of both the BlueRibbon Coalition and Sage Riders provides the lawsuit with critical legal standing as someone directly affected by the closures Court documents show the new restrictions prevent him from accessing his historic family homestead The coalition claims the decision was made by a Washington D.C political appointee rather than local BLM officials and seeks a preliminary injunction while litigation proceeds The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) has defended the closures arguing they protect important natural and cultural resources “The motorized recreation groups filing this lawsuit are bound and determined to make Utah’s remarkable San Rafael Swell nothing more than a playground for off-road vehicles,” said SUWA Staff Attorney Laura Peterson While SUWA has its own criticisms of the BLM’s plan it supports keeping approximately 650 miles of routes closed describing them as illegally created pathways through fragile environments The BLM’s final plan selected Alternative E which still designates nearly 1,500 miles for motorized use across the area 2025 at 11:48 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The festival will celebrate the creativity and talent of Marin County students May 17 CA — C Street in San Rafael will turn into a vibrant arts hub May 17 showcasing the creativity of Marin County students a nonprofit that creates events and exhibits to amplify students presents the fourth annual C Street Celebration which is a free event that will take place from 11 a.m May 17 in the Downtown San Rafael Arts District on C Street in between 3rd and 4th Streets "All of us Youth in Arts are thrilled to celebrate the incredible talents of our students and teaching artists with our community" said Taylor Buttrey "This event reflects our vision that youth of every background and ability deserve the opportunity to express themselves share their voices and reach their full potential through the arts." The festival will feature students’ music and dance performances and hands-on art crafting activities with community partners such as the California Film Institute the San Rafael Business Improvement District and more Youth in Arts will unveil an environmentally-focused mural that was done in partnership with the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art Food and drinks will be provided by Pink Owl Coffee and Hot Italian Pizza Youth in Arts works with over 5,000 Bay Area students including all 3,100 TK through fifth grade students in the San Rafael City Schools District since 2022 2025 at 3:29 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Auditions are May 12 CA — A San Rafael teen arts organization will hold auditions May 12 to add singers to its a cappella ensemble ‘Til Dawn is an a cappella ensemble for teens in ninth to twelfth grade that will be hosting auditions from 5:30-9:30 p.m Youth in Arts described the a cappella ensemble as an advanced vocal music program that encourages positive messages about social issues and inspires children For those interested in auditioning, apply here and ‘Til Dawn asks them to prepare a one minute excerpt of a song in English in the genre of rock Be prepared to learn harmonies and match pitch ‘Til Dawn is a tuition-based program but students are not turned away if they cannot pay The group typically rehearses six hours a week for about 46 weeks a year They also perform about 25 times a year at community events mental health centers and occasionally on radio and T.V The group recently performed at Archie Williams High School and its next performance is Friday at San Marin High School Here is a list of other upcoming 'Til Dawn events: May 17, 2025; 11 am – 4 pmC Street Celebration: FREE Community Festival of Creativity June 7, 2025; 10:00 am46th Annual Fairfax Festival Caltrans is scheduled to start construction on a roundabout project at the Manuel T Freitas Parkway/US-101 interchange in San Rafael in spring of 2025 Crews will start pre-construction the week of April 21 Work is not expected to affect the ramps or lanes on US-101 Caltrans is working to relocate the bus stop at the northbound Freitas Parkway off-ramp to make it safer and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible Caltrans is proposing to improve the intersection of Freitas Parkway and Old Redwood Highway by installing a roundabout This change will improve traffic flow and make this busy intersection/off-ramp safer for vehicles and pedestrians The project is being coordinated with Golden Gate Transit (GGT) and the City of San Rafael for bus stop relocation/ improvements in the City’s Right of Way The project’s scope includes the reconstruction of curb ramps and sidewalks; removes stairs and bus stop access across loop ramps; relocates northbound bus stop to Redwood Highway; and constructs a roundabout at the Redwood Highway/Civic Center Drive intersection The project is scheduled to conclude in the winter of 2025 The project will be worked on in seven stages and is expected to last about 5 ½ months STAGE 7: This stage is scheduled to take about two weeks and final striping will occur on the eastside There are no detours scheduled for this stage The modern roundabout is an intersection with a circular configuration that safely and efficiently moves traffic Major roundabout projects are being built in other North Bay counties like Sonoma and Napa in recent years curved approaches that reduce vehicle speed entry yield control that gives right-of way to circulating traffic and counterclockwise flow around a central island that minimizes conflict points The Washoe County Open Space and Regional Parks Commission approved revisions to the Rancho San Rafael Park master plan on Wednesday They will discuss placement of trees with the Balloon Races in the future They say the proposed changes could threaten event profitability or even the event itself The Washoe County Open Space and Regional Parks Commission held their regular meeting today during which they discussed an item about adopting the revised 2024 Rancho San Rafael Regional Park Master Plan The revisions to this plan include an expansion on 400 non-paved parking stalls in the north parking zone They talked about when new trees could be added to the pasture area for the disc golf course On this topic they also discussed if the Great Reno Balloon Race Committee should be consulted on tree location so it does not interfere with the event During the meeting they approved moving forward with the revised plan and to discuss with the Reno Balloon Race Committee about tree placement for the future Recommendation to adopt the revised 2024 Rancho San Rafael Regional Park Master Plan Revisions include an expansion of 400 non-paved parking stalls in the North Parking Zone and language stating when new trees are added to the pasture area or the disc golf course that Great Reno Balloon Races should be consulted on tree location and/or species to ensure no impediment on their event On behalf of Washoe County and The Great Reno Balloon Race: Washoe County and the board of directors for The Great Reno Balloon Race (GRBR) are pleased to announce they are in agreement of minor adjustments to the final master plan for Rancho San Rafael Regional Park were able to identify ways to ensure the continuation of a safe hot air balloon festival while honoring the community’s vision for grown capabilities and offerings for all 3.5 million annual visitors Both entities are pleased that the revised plan was adopted in the January 22 Open Space and Regional Parks Commission meeting after finding an amenable version for all The two parties look forward to contributing to the beloved park in the coming years." -The Board of Directors for The Great Reno Balloon Race the Executive Director of the Great Reno Balloon Race says over the last couple months The Great Reno Balloon Race Committee has been able to work it out with the county regarding the master plan We asked about those discussions and he says “It was just changes that allowed us to better manage the process of getting 50,000 people in the park that Saturday morning at 4 o clock and part of that was traffic where trees were located and just a lot of little things that would not be super important to the community but it was important to the safety of the event and we needed to go through this process.” Copeland says the county understood their concerns and helped smooth everything out instead of having it so fragmented we needed it consolidated where we can manage the process of getting all of those people into the park safely and there’s only a few corridors to do that in a very busy intersection and with that we were able to get parking on the northeast corner and parking across the corner where the new tennis courts will be.” he says the original plan had a lot of new trees around the pasture itself while The Great Reno Balloon Race Committee is all for planting trees the committee says they need open space to safely fly their balloons too Copeland also mentions they've had a partnership with Washoe County for about 44 years so getting to an understanding was important to them “It’ll be nice to put this behind us to know that we have a home for the next 25 years here Our fans were super supportive during this process I think the community is relieved we really never wanted to go down this path it just happened to go that way but I think everyone is really relieved and we want to get back to the business of ballooning.” Washoe County says it will revisit proposed master plan changes for Rancho San Rafael park next month Washoe County announced the decision after it discussed the proposal with The Great Reno Balloon Race and how it could impact the popular event's longevity The two entities released a joint statement on Wednesday: Both Washoe County and GRBR are committed to working together to address the festival’s ability to host future safe events at the park while balancing the needs of all park users Washoe County will discuss a proposed master plan for Rancho San Rafael Regional Park at its January meeting Great Reno Balloon Race organizers argued that if the proposal is approved it could have negative effects on the annual event that would jeopardize its future The master plan outlines changes to the park that would include tennis and pickleball courts Balloon race officials say that the development which would reduce the available parking for the event and decrease the amount of area overall threatens both the accessibility and financial sustainability of the event This is because the free event relies on funds raised by paid parking Washoe County says the current master plan hadn't been updated in over 30 years "Over the course of creating the proposed Rancho San Rafael Regional Park Master Plan Update the addition of an agenda item to revisit the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park Master Plan Update will be placed onto its regularly scheduled January commission meeting to discuss stakeholder and community concerns prior to taking any further action." Organizers behind the Great Reno Balloon Race are responding to a recently proposed master plan for Rancho San Rafael Regional Park The organizers argue that if the proposal is approved “While we respect the challenge of balancing the needs of all park users.. ...entertaining a Master Plan that could impose an expiration date on this beloved tradition could be the beginning of the end - darkening our skies and leaving a void in our cultural and economic fabric.” -The Great Reno Balloon Race Board of Directors they argue that the proposal includes planting trees near the balloon flight fields which would pose safety concerns for both pilots and attendees If you are interesting in learning more or taking action, visit the Great Reno Balloon Race website Contra Costa and Marin County — Caltrans is scheduled to close one lane in the westbound direction of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and two eastbound lanes for night construction work from Monday Construction crews will close the second lane to perform deck repairs in the westbound direction starting Monday at 7 p.m Construction will also close the second and third lanes in the eastbound direction starting at 9 p.m Lanes in both directions will reopen at 5 a.m The lane closure on I-580 east will also impact the right shoulder The bike lane will not be further impacted by this construction work Caltrans thanks motorists for their patience while we work to maintain our state's highways For real-time traffic, click on Caltrans QuickMap: http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ Contra Costa County and Marin County — Caltrans is scheduled to continue a bridge deck repair project on both the upper and lower decks of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge from Monday The two far-left lanes are scheduled to be closed on Eastbound Interstate 580 (I-580) from 7 p.m One lane is scheduled to be closed on Westbound I-580 between 7 p.m the Eastbound I-580 shoulder is scheduled to be closed from 5 a.m The bicycle lane on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge on Westbound I-580 is not expected to be affected MARIN COUNTY — Caltrans is scheduled to close the bike lane on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (I-580) on Sunday