Over the past two years, the Outdoor Alliance California team has been meeting with Representative Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) voicing our support for the Great American Outdoors Act, California land protections, and advocating for additional resources for our public land managers. California’s first congressional district is vast in public lands and waters with some of the most iconic outdoor recreation assets including Feather River’s whitewater, over a hundred miles of single track in the Lost Sierra, thru hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail, and the stunning backdrop of the jagged peaks of Mount Lassen.

The last week of April, a group of mountain bikers, paddlers, business owners, nonprofits, community members, and federal land managers convened in the heart of the Sierra Buttes to meet with Congressman LaMalfa. The key goals of our conversation were to share our support for the outdoor recreation economy in the district, ensure resources for sustainable outdoor recreation, build partnership with land managers, and highlight the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS) legacy project – Connected Communities.

“As we see increasing use and visitation, and growing interest in the diverse uses our public lands offer, partnerships such as the one with Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship project are critical to our collective success. Partners are often able to bring much-needed resources and skills to the table, enabling projects to happen that might otherwise remain a vision,” said Chris Carlton, Forest Supervisor, Plumas National Forest. “The partnership between SBTS and the Forest Service has resulted in the construction of numerous trails; providing local jobs, increasing recreational opportunities, and benefitting our communities.”

The vision of Connected Communities is to develop a Trails Master Plan that would offer a world-class multiple-use trail access that would connect 15 communities throughout the Lassen, Plumas, and Tahoe National Forest. The key to the project is connecting the trailhead to main street of these towns, which would provide outdoor recreation access to these communities and support the local economy.

Greg Williams, Executive Director, Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, said, “The outdoor recreation roundtable meeting with Congressman LaMalfa was an incredible opportunity to highlight the importance of cross jurisdiction partnership and collaboration on our district’s public lands and waters. We look forward to working with these partners and the Congressman on Connected Communities and other sustainable outdoor recreation projects in the region.”

Throughout the pandemic, more Americans than ever turned to the outdoors, some for the first time and others for the first time in many years. With restrictions lifting throughout the country, Americans are going to continue to enjoy the outdoor activities, especially in the Northern Sierra. Organizations like Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, American Whitewater, the Forest Service, outdoor businesses, and outdoor recreation community leaders are working together toward a shared vision of a sustainable outdoor recreation in California. With support from lawmakers like Rep. LaMalfa, we can conserve valuable lands and waters in California, ensure sustainable access to outdoor recreation, and help build the outdoor recreation economy.

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Trip Report: An Outdoor Recreation Roundtable with Representative LaMalfa