It is obvious the DPW is not up to speed on the scientific proof of the impact mountain bikers have on the environment. It simply amounts to one drop of rain in a monsoon.
Beyond 'facts'... The DPW fails understand who are the responsible advocates protecting the reservoir. Furthermore, from Kocher's comments... I personally believe he has never stepped one foot on Loch Raven nor knows the first things about what a "single track" looks like.
While the water infrastructure is crumbling beneath our feet, it is ironic the DPW is investing more money to chase away outdoor enthusiast asking 'how can we help?'

A science guy working on the MORE team has found that Bathymetric studies of Loch Raven have shown that the major contributions to sedimentation have been farming and development. Mountain bikes don't even make a blib in the data.

On page 10 of the original plan, it says "the Friends of the Watersheds Committee will review mountain biking activities on at least an annual basis." I am curious as to the what the results of these eleven reviews have revealed, or if they have been addressed at all?

As a city taxpayer I find the only thing more ridiculous then the waste of funds on this witch hunt to be the spurious reasons being presented for its existence in the first place. When will, if ever, the Mayor's office and DPW evaluate the actual facts of the matter and act accordingly, instead of basing the expenditure of thousands of taxpayer dollars on somebody's "feeling"? The current usage of the watershed lands for recreation purposes pretty obviously does not now, nor has ever, done harm to the reservoir. As usual, the City Goverment's myopic failure to partner with user groups, apply any level of creative thinking whatsoever, and fear of pointing a finger toward an actual culprit (i.e.: the surrounding over-development) is turning an opportunity to work with and serve it's citizens into a classic "because I say so" slap down. The reservoirs are PUBLIC PROPERTY, not Kurt Kocher's personal fiefdom. Dismiss him Mayor Rawlings-Blake!

I was not able to make this meeting but it seems as though all of this action by DPW is unfounded. Has there been a single study or any evidence introduced that supports their claims that mountain bikers are even causing increased sedmentation?!? Even so, it is impossible that people walking or biking could be causing anywhere near as much runoff as a single construction project near the reservoir, of which there are probably several currently taking place and dozens, if not hundreds, over the last 12 years that they are blaming us for the increase in runoff. If money to treat the water truly is the issue, I'm sure the volunteer hours that are provided by users of the area, often organized by MORE, are saving DPW alot of money as compared to paying govt employees to clean up trash in the water or on the trails. Further, if money is the issue, why not require a park pass, which I'm sure users woud be more than willing to pay a couple dollars a day or purchase monthly/yearly passes to offset the "increased expenses" as an alternative to losing privelages all together.

If DPW is so certain that Mountain bikers are the root cause of pollution in their reservoir (which they also brag is one of the best maintained reservoirs in the country), then I would argue that they need to provide concrete proof of this. I highly doubt that the water quality and subsequent treatment for city residents would improve at all if mountain bikers never rode there again. DPW will still spend the same amount of time and money treating the water supply as they always have. It is unfair to single out any one group and issue "warnings" for any type of trail use. I hope that DPW comes to an agreement with the Mountain bike community and works with us to develop sustainable trails so that families, hikers, bikers, fishermen, runners, and all the other trail users can enjoy. This has been done successfully in other states and if allowed to Maryland (specifically the City of Baltimore DPW) can brag about doing the same here in the future.

I'm ecstatic that there are so many of you who are passionate about this issue. I would suggest friending us on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/LuthervilleTimoniumPatch and/or following us on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/#!/TimoniumPatch If we get more followers than I will Live Tweet the next meeting so people who can't the work session will be informed of what's happening in real time. Now, on to more important things, who wants to lend me a bike so I can see what all the fuss about these trails is really about?

Nick--I'll lend you a bike. Call me at The Bicycle Connection in Cockeysville. Number is online. Thank you for your interest and for the coverage.

Why do I have to pay a higher utility bill for the city to buy "more" equipment to help the "equipment" damaging the trail trying to fix the trail. The city is buying another machine to help a machine maintain trails - you have 2000+ bikers to help with that and it won't cost the city or TAX PAYERS a dime and this can help cut costs! If it's a 100 ft buffer from the water, why can't we reroute some of the trails to close to the water? We as volunteers can help remove the invasive plants - we can help the city with all of this. We are the largest collection of volunteers to help clean up the trash left behind from others or blown in off the streets - how will water quality be in 15 years when we are not there to help clean up. The city is not using their resources, they have a one mind set policy. They have a goal, they are slowly choking us out, start with the largest group, bikers, then merge out the runners, then the hikers and fisherman. Amato stated that they were not targeting runners or hikers only bikers at the moment, then why were hikers and runners stopped on the trails by the rangers and issued warnings? We are all at risk....

I didn't disobey a police officer. I disobeyed Watershed rules by riding after dark.

As I said at the meeting, those of us who have been riding in LR for over 20 years know that the trails have not changed in all that time. Look at Baltimore City's website - they crow over the quality of our drinking water. The City ranks in the top 20 in the US for quality of tap water, and even higher in some studies. Google up the studies. The problems that we have have nothing to do with siltation; rather, the studies blame impurities related to storm water running from impervious surfaces. In the old days, common wisdom was that you couldn't build in the downhill side of the watershed. Yet all the houses in Ashland, obviously a mammoth development, are in the flood plain. Many houses have been built within sight of the fire road trails, and one homeowner has clear cut a view of the reservoir (photos on Save the Raven.com). The ex-Raven (many riders know where his house is) rides his four-wheelers on the trails. Speaking of four-wheelers, the tracks along Seminary run right to the home-owner's garage; I've followed them. And many times I've seen dirt bikes on the fire break on the Merrimans loop. Yet somehow mountain bikers are threatening the purity of our water. (continued)

It's a sad day when some petty functionaries can so harass taxpaying citizens enjoying public land. And yes, it is a park, despite the DPW's protest to the contrary. If nothing else, it is a de facto park. In that park, there is a fishing center, a skeet range, a police pistol range, and a public golf course. The road through that park has been gated off on weekends for years so that citizens can enjoy the beautiful water and trails. And so it should be. Finally, Loch Raven is a world-class mountain bike venue. Other cities would jump on the chance to so utilize their public land, especially with the level of participation that MORE and other groups have dedicated to preservation of the trail system. (continued)

After attending the meeting I felt the DPW reps really didn't seem to know their watershed very well. Interesting how a mountain biker could spew water quality data and seem to surprise the DPW rep at the table. Merryman's single track trails I have been riding on for years have gone unchanged. Fire trails are falling apart. Stream erosion is bad as well. My advice to the DPW is to take a hike and see what you are talking about.

It's unbelievable that the DPW spokeswoman at the meeting had no idea on what grounds the golf course was "grandfathered" (her word) into the current watershed plans. I, and many other mountain bikers, have enjoyed that course, but surely its existence is one of the biggest counter-arguments to the DPWs so-called plan. If security (their other argument) is the issue, then the golf course is a gaping opportunity for terrorists to poison our water supply. Yes, I know it's ludicrous, but that is one of their arguments. And the fishing center? It's silly, but there you have it.

There is no siltation issue, and there is no security issue. As I've said from the beginning, we are taking the wrong tack. Rather than cowtowing to the DPW and letting them define our usage as "damage," we should be legally asserting our rights. Meetings are fine, but they accomplish little in the face of uninformed, dogmatic, bureaucratic resistance. The science is on our side. We need a legal effort to assert that science and to assert our right to enjoy public land in the same way that golfers, skeet shooters, fisherman, hikers, and others do.

Hopefully the presence of the two DPW members and Councilman Bill Harris at the MORE meeting gave them some insight into the passion we feel for the watershed. We care desperately about the ability to ride established, stable, fun trails along with the responsibility to maintain and protect those trails. In addition, we share their about water quality. We enjoy drinking it and understand our role in making sure it doesn't degrade. Come on DPW, we want to help. Don't hang your hats on feelings and hunches, let's work together to protect and preserve the existing trail network, not a subset of woods roads that are more problematic than all the non-sanctioned trails combined. Loch Raven is an asset that makes our metropolitan area desirable. Don't chase away the very people whose tax dollars and expenditures on goods and services support the area it serves.

First of all, Nick and the Timonium Patch... Thanks for spending your time at the meeting and writing this article. I am sure you will have no problem borrowing a bike or finding someone to give you a tour (on bike or on foot).

I have only been riding at Loch Raven PARK for the last 7-8 years, but could not imagine life without it. My son will turn 6 next year, and I have plans to introduce him to Loch Raven... DPW, please do not take that away!

I don't think I could put it any more eloquent than the gentleman in the crowd stated: "Let's build something Beautiful". Loch Raven PARK is a destination spot, let’s embrace, not close it off.

I'm a rider, hiker and was one of the three to get a citation for night riding, never a warning. Now I received a written warning for using single track in what appears to be the first week of enforcement. Bad luck I guess. Per Kurt Kocher, who obviously blames mountain bikers specifically for everything negative in the reservoirs, and the DPW "the rangers are NOT looking to get only mountain bikers". However,Yes they are. They sit in the woods on single track and jump out in front of you to give you a ticket instead of standing at the start of the single track and advising or educating that starting now these trails are off limits. Its a joke!

As a city resident I am constantly promoting city living. Part of the appeal/ability to live in the city is being able to venture out and enjoy the wilderness around us. Loch Raven has been that location for my friends and I for the past 13 years. As a mountain biker, hiker and runner I have been so happy to have a resource so close in proximity to my home here in the city. As a city resident who pays taxes and who has very little open space such as Loch Raven within city limits it has become a refuge. My tax dollars go directly into the maintenance and upkeep of this resource. The sweat equity that my friends and I have put in through trail work and trash removal was only prompted by the internal surge of responsibility to maintain the area that I utilize so much. The current law is outdated and needs to be changed. It needs to be changed to allow the inclusion of those people that have cared for this natural resource for so many years.

I have not been riding the trails at all (not even the woods road) because of the new education/enforcement. I thought I would just start going to Patapsco. Yesterday I decided to roll around on the woods roads because I had some time. What a great place for Mountain biking but without the full trail system of single track and woods roads it is a waste of time. It is so sad that the city cannot see that Loch Raven trails are something positive for the city and the county that volunteers will take care of. And we have been taking care of them for some time. The single track is in great shape (this is what the bikers maintain as well as the woods roads) but the woods roads are being destroyed by rangers, their trucks and heavy equipment. The city workers are the culprits to destroying the trails in Loch Raven. I am a PE teacher and it is hard to promote lifetime fitness when our outdoor areas are being shut down.

Here is another option on what can be done to come to a sensible solution to an issue that shouldn't be. This won't make everyone happy, but nothing ever does. The Tsali trail system in North Carolina is a great template for how a trail system can be maintained and enjoyed by everyone. http://www.main.nc.us/graham/hiking/tsali.html. There are on and off days to accommodate everyone. There is a fee, but this goes directly back into the system for which it is collected for. I don't think anyone would be too bent out of shape about a fee; as long as it used for the trails. I have ridden these trails for 17 years and you would be hard pressed to find a better managed rec. area.

I think educating the people who use it and know it is not where the focus should be, but instead the people doing the "educating" are the ones who should be asking the users of this great system what is a viable solution fro everyone.

It has beeen the intention that reservoir watershed lands should be used for recreation, yet Baltimore City DPW has no comprehensive plan for managing the recreation that occurs on watershed lands. They are simply trying to manage the resources without manging the users.

After attempting to work with DPW for nearly one year, it has become clear that Baltimore City DPW has never had any intention of working with any user group to create a trail plan for the City reservoirs. They continue cite the outdated 1998 plan as justification for forcing mountain bikers off the single track trails, and onto the poorly marked and unmaintained (except by mountain bikers) Woods Roads.

They have also stated that similar restrictions will be imposed on hikers, birders, and fishermen. What plan will be referenced when these groups are also given warnings for single track trail use? Are there watershed regulations that account for these activities? If DPW has a new plan for further restrictions and use of the watershed lands, then they must make it available to the public for review. DPW. I call your bluff.

As a trail runner, mountain biker and new homeowner in the loch raven area I would like to thank Celeste, Kurt and Councilman Bill Henry for attending the meeting. I look forward to working with them on maintaining and protecting this beautiful area of Baltimore County. We are all anxious to help, please give us the opportunity. I hope both sides can stop pointing fingers and work collaboratively towards a solution.

Thanks Nick for attending the meeting, putting together this article and taking an interest in an issuse we are all passionate about.

I hiked and fished at Loch Raven when I was a kid. My kids, who are adults, did the same. The trail user are being accused of causing sedimentation, erosion, and degradation of the drinking water. It is such a travesty to severly restrict the use of so many trails for such unfounded reasons. The city needs to reference the state's studies. From Publication WRIR-99-4240 Sediment Accumulation and Water Volume in Loch Raven Reservoir, Baltimore County, Maryland
By William S. L. Banks and Andrew E. LaMotte
It contradicts the accusations. I feel that many of the trail users who have volunteered time to maintain the trails are being cheated. This is a dark cloud over Loch Raven!

I would like to thank Celeste, Kurt K. and Councilman Henry for taking the time to listen to our concerns. Special thanks to Nick D. for telling our story.

I hope the next meeting will reflect progress for all trail users.

Any word from the DPW's review of MORE's plan?

I'm surprised that no one has brought up the point of how disruptive to the fireroads and forests lumbering can be. See my blog on the test site forest study that is being done at Prettyboy and Liberty Reservoirs and how much City bull went into that. http://riverbodysurfing.blogspot.com/ This study is only going to end up being the City's justification to bring back wide spread logging and timber harvests at the City's 3 reservoirs. The City's main justification for cutting is to have more new tree regeneration. This is BULL. I have observed way too many sites that were cut 15 to 25 years ago that currently still have an inadequate regeneration to make this argument a valid one. Deer overgrazing and invasive species is the main culprit for inadequate tree regeneration. Every forester's job is to want to cut(especially DNR) and they will come up with just about any reason to do it. Talk about soil erosion! Shame on DPW for picking on recreational users for perceived soil erosion when the City is getting ready to perform wide spread timber harvests within the next few years. Without the public being able to legally go off the fireroads to check these cuts. the City will not have any independent outside third party checks to assure these cuts are being done properly. So much for the green movement and the City of Baltimore.