Cronan Ranch Planning Meeting Scheduled

The Folsom Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management will hold a public meeting in the multipurpose room at Sutter's Mill School, 4801 Luneman Road, in Lotus, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21 to continue work on a management plan for the recently acquired 1,400-acre Cronan Ranch parcel along the South Fork American River. Everyone interested in using public lands along the South Fork American River is invited to attend.

The meeting agenda will continue the discussion of federal requirements for a special permit for all commercial activity on public lands. A number of commercial activities have occurred on the Cronan Ranch in the past, including filming and use of the beach by commercial outfitters. At the last meeting, the focus was on the use of the Cronan Ranch by commercial rafting outfitters. At Wednesday's meeting, attention will be given to commercial photography, including movies.

The Cronan Ranch parcel contains varied terrain which ranges from relatively flat to quite steep. Vegetation includes blue oak savannah, foothill woodland, and riparian areas. There are 12 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, bird watching, and other recreation activities. The parcel borders on State Highway 49 and the South Fork American River.

The planning project is part of the implementation of the South Fork American River management plan which mandated community-based planning for all newly acquired parcels of land along the river. That plan, adopted by the BLM in 2004, was written in a series of 40 public meetings with local residents and river users.

For more information, contact the Folsom Field Office, 63 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630, or call (916) 985-4474.

-BLM-

Folsom Field Office - 63 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630