Public input needed for recreational trails survey

The Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, a Quincy-based 501c3 nonprofit focused on job creation through trails and recreation, is seeking public input through a Lost Sierra Trail Survey.

SBTS encourages residents of Plumas, Lassen and Sierra counties to provide feedback by completing the survey which takes approximately 10 minutes.

The goal of the survey is to understand how local residents use public lands and their preferred means of recreation on trails so SBTS can create more recreation opportunities for the public.

To date, SBTS has built and maintained more than 944 miles of motorized and non-motorized multi-use trails in Plumas, Lassen and Sierra counties, along with 85,000 hours of volunteer labor contributed. SBTS employs a full-time professional trail crew as well as seasonal youth development programs focused on trail work.

“Trails are a public asset that have positive economic impact for our community,” said Greg Williams, SBTS executive director. “Trails also have positive physical health impacts, while attracting visitors and new residents who value quality of life, the outdoors and the joys of mountain living. We like to call it ‘Dirt Magic’, because a quality trail experience can be magical, even transformational for communities.” 

Conducted in partnership with SBTS by Caitlin T. Kammerer at the Center for Economic Development at California State University, Chico, the Lost Sierra Trail Survey will gather economic and demographic background data on who uses the trails of the Lost Sierra and what types of recreation residents and visitors engage in when using the trails. The study will also capture money spent in the local economy through trail use.

The data from this study will be used to support future recreational trail projects to benefit mountain communities in the tri-county area. There are no risks associated with your participation in this study and all information obtained will be kept confidential, secured in a locked facility with digital data password protection. No personal information will ever be disclosed.

To take this survey, visit www.sierratrails.org/www.sierratrails.org and follow the survey link. You can also take the survey in person at the SBTS office in Quincy at 550 Crescent St. during business hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Questions regarding the research study can be directed to Caitlin T. Kammerer at c [email protected].