River Mountains Loop Trail

Trail Enforcement takes many forms…

The River Mountains Loop Trail within the City of Henderson falls under the Federal land management of the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR); however, enforcement of trail rules, ordinances and NRS falls to the City of Henderson Police  and to a lesser degree the Parks and Recreation Departments.  The RMLT from Railroad Pass on the south to Lake Mead National Recreation Area on the Northeast is patrolled by the Henderson Police Dept.  using a variety of modes or forms of transportation. 

On any given day or hour of the day you may see HPD trucks, cars, motorcycles, ATV’s, bicycles, and even horses patrolling along the trail corridor.  Their patrols are for user safety.  The trail has been GPS’d and trail mileage markers are used for reference points.  You will also see Trail Watch volunteers wearing orange vests along the trail through out the day. These volunteers are trained to be the “eyes and ears” on all of Henderson’s trails. Again for the safety of trail users.

HPD ATV Units

HPD ATV Units

What type of Enforcement Issues are they looking for??  The rules applicable to city parks apply along the trail.

  • Dogs on leash
  • Trash and illegal dumping
  • Non-authorized vehicles, ATV’s and motorcycles on trail
  • Fire-arms and target shooting on, near or across the trail
  • Use after closing hours
  • Other non-authorized uses

 

 
 

HPD Mounted horse patrol

HPD Mounted horse patrol

Besides Enforcement HPD and Trail Watch are also there to provide:

  • Information and directions to trail users
  • Aid and assistance as needed
  • Trail safety and maintenance needs
  • A positive use influence along the trail

 

 

 

 

Trail Watch Volunteers

Trail Watch Volunteers

Additional Enforcement is provided in the River Mountains area by National Park Service Rangers; BLM Wilderness Rangers; and both Nevada Dept. of Wildlife and U.S Fish and Wildlife.

 Gallery Photos:

 

Trail Maintenence Costs – Help keep it down

March 30, 2009-  This post may come close to an editorial.  The community at large is beginning to question what we all love dearly and that is our trails.  Henderson has been a leader and still is in trail development.  Through SNPLMA funds they have been able to design and  build trail like no other community in Southern Nevada.  But at what price? With a down economy and all entities looking to cut expenses, trails and parks will and are coming under attack.

How can you budget to maintain all these parks and trails??Alot of the programs ran in the parks are self-funded to degree, or so I have been told.  Trail maintenance does cost money…weekly patrols, sign repairs, picking up trash, annual striping and surface maintenance adds up over the year.  RTC funds are part of the answer! A portion of our gasoline tax goes to RTC trail system annual maintenance costs. If the city trails are on the RTC map you can apply for trail maintenace funds.  It comes out to something like $9,000/mile per year.  This certainly helps toward the annual costs.  But trail pavement needing seal coating will eat up an entire years budget real quick.

This is where you and I come into the picture…  JOIN HENDERSON’S “TRAIL WATCH” program and become part of the solution.  True they preach “eyes & ears” on the trail, but no reason why we can not pick up trash when patrolling the trails; kick few rocks off the trail now and then; and we can certainly volunteer for special work project events which help reduce trail maintenance.  We certainly do not want our trails closed because of maintenance or unsafe conditions, so we need to do our part.  Ask a friend, a business associate or someone you meet on the trail to join “Trail Watch”.   If we do not ‘Watch out” we could see fewer trails to enjoy.

Trail Watch – Meeting the users

On a recent trail watch outing with my wife we met some 20+ users along a mile and half section of the River Mountains Loop Trail. We were picking up trash as we walked and were thoroughly impressed with the amount of “thanks” and “thank yous” we received. Most of them came from the bike riders who far out numbered other users. We stopped and talked to several people who make use of the trail a daily routine.  We met two or three joggers and several walkers. Met one gentleman walking his dog (on a leash) and they had been doing this walk for years.

We collected several trash bags of litter along the trail, but most of it comes from boulder highway and not trail users. Several bikers stopped to ask when would the trail be complete to Boulder City, and we were happy to say late spring 2009. This completed segment is one of the most anticipated of the entire trail system.

I encourage anyone who uses the trails on a regular basis and enjoys talking to people and doing light trail maintenance to please consider becoming a Henderson Trail Watch volunteer.  Call 702-267-4050 and learn more….:)

Illegal Dumping – Do your part to stop it!

Why dump in desert?Dumping in the desert is illegal. It is bad for the environment and it is bad for the wildlife that lives there. I and alot of my trail friends are tired of dumping in the desert and we will report it.  Trail Watch volunteers are trained to report illegal dumping, so beware. Fines for dumping can cost you $500.00 and up.  I have been involved in upto two trail clean up events each year for the last five years and it still amazes me what gets dumped in our desert. Trust me when I say that “Eyes and ears” are watching the desert along the River Mountains Loop Trail.  Please bag it and can it at the curb.

DO YOUR PART TO STOP IT BY REPORTING IT!

What To Do If You…find dumped materials.  If you did not witness the dumping, but want to file a complaint about illegally dumped materials, gather information on the materials, such as:

  • Location
  • Description of materials
  • Date You observed the materials

Submit all complaints to: Clark County Health District

By Phone(702) 759-0600     Online: www.cchd.org                 Email: cleanup@cchd.org

WHAT To Do If You…Witness or know of materials illegally dumped.

If you have witnessed an illegal dumping or know of a site where materials have been illegally dumped, gather as much information as possible, such as:

  • Name of Individual, if known
  • vehicle Description
  • License Plate Information
  • Date and time of dumping
  • Dump site location
  • Description of material (household trash, construction materials, landscape trimings)
  • Pictures you have taken

Submit all information to: City of Henderson –

Code Enforcement –

Phone: (702)-267-3950

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: http://www.donttrashnevada.org/

Trail Watch program kicks off in Henderson

Filling out trail log reportThis is a program used across the country to bring volunteers into the local trail system.  Trail Watch is intended to be the “Eyes & Ears” of what is happening on our trails.  Trail Watch provides improved safety for all trail users and also a means for trail maintenance and upkeep.  If you want to support Henderson trails and more specifically the River Mountains Loop Trail I encourage you to get involved by contacting Jennifer Magby, Outdoor Recreation Coordinator at 702-267-4050 or go online to City Henderson Trail Watch logoof Henderson web page, Parks & Recreation, and click on Trail Watch logo.  You can fill out an application online, then mail or fax it.  Photo in this post is yours truly completing my trail log at the SNWA rest area.

Link: http://www.cityofhenderson.com/parks/parks/trail_watch.php