Trails & Recreation Data Layers and Priorities
The primary trails and recreation goal is to promote nature-based recreation in the BRBNA. Trails and recreation priorities include major destinations and corridors and were driven by three major considerations:

• Planning guidelines that reflect the Partnership's trails and recreation vision, goals, and objectives
• Identification and mapping of potential recreation opportunities, access, and camping facilities
• An understanding of future trails and recreation needs

Trails and recreation were mapped using a slightly different methodology than that used for biodiversity and working ranches. The trails and recreation data and priorities were developed during workshops held with a variety of recreation and conservation experts in May 2004 (see Appendix G for process description). These experts had local, on-the-ground knowledge of the resources and identified both existing and potential recreation destinations (natural, scenic, cultural, and historic), trailheads or access points, and camping areas. Connectivity opportunities were also identified. Workshop data was transferred to the GIS, reviewed for accuracy, and evaluated based on the trails and recreation planning guidelines. Groups of destinations were organized into major destinations (or activity areas) with names denoted for each tying to geographic location.

Method
Twelve GIS data layers were created and combined to build the final recreation priorities map. Each of these layers and the method used to create the layer are described below:

Recreation destinations are areas with natural, scenic, historic or cultural interest. These areas were identified at the workshop and are illustrated in Figure 5-18: Existing Recreation Destinations. There are approximately 100 recreation destinations. These areas all have some form of public access that is either unrestricted or constrained (e.g. requires reservations). Once the recreation destinations were identified, each one was ranked according to the number of different activities available in any one location (e.g. horseback riding, hiking, and hunting). Each different activity was ranked equally. Figure 5-19: Existing Recreation Destination Density illustrates the concentration or density of existing recreation destinations. The darkest areas are those with the greatest variety of recreation activities and include Indian Valley, Cache Creek Canyon and Cold Canyon.

Existing access points are trailheads and put-ins identified at the workshop. Each trailhead and put-in received a 200-meter buffer and all points received a ranking of 5. Figure 5-20: Existing Access Points illustrates these points.

Existing trails includes those that were mapped prior to the workshop as well as those identified at the workshop. Data from three partners – yolohiker.org, Berryessa Trails, and the BLM provided the majority of the data for this map. Trails received a 100-meter buffer and all trails were assigned a ranking of 5. Figure 5-21: Existing Trails illustrates existing trails.

Figure 5-22: Existing Recreation was created by combining Figures 5-19 through 5-21. The darkest areas on this map indicate the areas with the greatest concentration of existing recreation. The areas of greatest concentration include, from north to south Walker Ridge/Indian Valley Reservoir, Wilson Valley, Wilbur Hot Springs, Payne Ranch, Upper and Lower Cache Creek Canyon Park, McLaughlin Reserve, Knoxville OHV Area, Knoxville Wildlife Area, Wilson Valley, various locations around Lake Berryessa, Cold Canyon, Mixx Canyon, and Napa and Millikin Reservoirs.

A variety of prospective access points were developed at the workshop.  Allocations for potential trailheads or boat put-ins include a 200-meter buffer.  Prospective camping sites and general access points received a 500-meter buffer. (Figure 5-23: Proposed Access Points)

Small roads include ranch roads, abandoned roads, dirt roads and utility roads mapped by interpreting aerial photographs of the BRBNA. Small roads on public lands represent future trail potential and some of these roads were identified at the workshop as potential linkages and connections. Similar features providing prospective connections across private lands are also identified.  Main roads were removed to create this map. (Figure 5-24: Small Roads)

Ridges and perennial streams indicate areas of recreation potential as recreational users are drawn to ridge tops where the views are expansive and to creeks, which are generally cooler and well vegetated. (Figure 5-25: Ridges and Perennial Streams)

Workshop participants identified prospective connections. These are areas where connections are needed to link existing trails and recreation areas. Proposed connections received a 300-meter buffer, indicating that the trail location was moderately flexible within the area identified at the workshop. (Figure 5-26: Proposed Trail Connections)

The viewshed map was included in the recreation analysis because areas with expansive views or scenic features are desirable recreation destinations. The viewshed map was creating using scenic points identified in the workshop plus elevation. The darkest areas illustrated in Figure 5-27: Viewshed are those that are visible from the most points along major roads and from scenic areas in the BRBNA.

Proposed destinations were also identified at the workshop. These areas are desired recreational destinations that are currently inaccessible, generally because they are public lands landlocked by private lands. Figure 5-28: Proposed Destinations illustrates suggested future recreation destinations. These include Turkey Run/Abbot Mine, Todd/Lauffs Ranch, ZimZim Creek and Falls, Berryessa Peak, Gosling Canyon, Cedar Roughs, and Lake Curry Reservoir.

Similar to Figure 5-22: Existing Recreation, Figure 5-29: Proposed Recreation was created by combining Figures 5-23 through 5-28. Areas of proposed access (Figure 5-23) and Proposed Destinations (Figure 5-28) received the highest weighting, a 1. Viewsheds and proposed trail connections received a weighting of .75, while small roads and ridges and streams received a weighting of .5.  The darkest areas on this map indicate the areas with the highest potential for recreation development.

Recreation Priorities
Figure 5-30: Recreation Priorities indicates that areas with high existing recreation and areas of high proposed recreation value rank highest and areas of little or no existing or proposed value rank close to 0. To develop this map, the existing recreation layer was ranked from 0 to 5. Areas of the highest current recreation value received the highest value (5). The proposed recreation layer was also ranked 0 through 5 with the areas of highest proposed recreation value receiving a 5. Using this weighting, the key recreation priorities are illustrated in the darkest green and include Berryessa Peak, the BLM lands with constrained access, and Lake Curry.