August, 2009

There are currently no advisories or closures in effect.

Please remember that not climbing near active raptor nests, spreading the word to others when nesting activity is observed, and self-policing within the climbing community - by stepping up and asking those you see climbing in an area where raptors are nesting to please stop - is the best way to minimize impacts to nesting raptors and to head off potential conflicts with land managers who otherwise might be influenced to implement restrictions. Please spread the word... Thank You!

Corte Madera - CNF Map Site
May, 2009

Sightings of peregrine falcons are common along the San Diego coastline. But for the first time ever, peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus anatum) have established a nest in the Cleveland National Forest at Corte Madera. This is historic!

The link above reflects a closure order put in place by the CNF for the newly discovered falcons. Prairie falcons nest at Corte Madera regularly. This year peregrine falcons drove out the prairie falcons, establishing a nest of their own.

Peregrine falcons were federally delisted as an endangered species in 1999 by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. They have been identified as RECOVERED by the California Department of Fish and Game which is currently processing the species for “delisting” from the State’s endangered species list. Presumably, the CNF put a closure order in place in lieu of an advisory (used for prairie falcons) because official closures are still the norm due to their once endangered status.

Although ACSD feels the closure area identified by the CNF is larger than necessary, it is important to respect the order while we work with the CNF to create more appropriate buffers in the future. Keep in mind that this is a "Closure" and not just an advisory. Violating a closure does have legal repercussions including fines and/or imprisonment.

Eagle Peak - CNF Map Site
May, 2009

As of this update, May 21, 2009, the CNF website map has not been corrected.  Per the Palomar District Head Ranger responsible for oversight of Eagle Peak, Joan Freidlander, access to climbing at Eagle Peak is accurately reflected on <this photo>.  As agreed to in recent discussions with Joan Freidlander and her district biologist, Jeff Wells, the area highlighted in <this photo> reflects the buffer zone climbers should not enter while climbing at Eagle Peak. We hope the CNF website map will be updated ASAP to reduce any confusion.

Glenn Cliff - CNF Map Site
May, 2009

Access to climbing at Glen Cliff has been restored.  As agreed to in recent negotiations with the Cleveland National Forest, if follow-up monitoring by CNF biologists determines that an active golden eagle nest is no longer in use, the area would be re-opened to the public.  Unfortunately, the eagle nest at Glen Cliff has failed. Please visit the CNF’s website for more details.  Forest Service Descanso District Head Ranger, Owen Martin, confirmed that his staff will remove the closure signs at Glen Cliff as soon as they are able to help reduce any confusion.

Poway Crags
May, 2009

Please do not climb at Poway Crags.  A pair of golden eagles has been documented with young in a nest at the Ramona Wall.  Unfortunately, the City of Poway has permanently closed all access to the entire area as a result of their consultations with Dave Bittner at the Wildlife Research Institute on the matter of golden eagles nesting at Poway Crags.  It is important not to disturb nesting eagles, it also illegal and punishable by fines and imprisonment under the Bald And Golden Eagle Protection Act.

However, the BGEPA does not require land managers to permanently restrict recreation in areas of golden eagles nests.  Seasonable restrictions around nest sites are more than sufficient to protect eagle nesting and nest sites.  ACSD has contacted the City of Poway to help educate the decision makers involved as to the successful use of seasonal closures which are used effectively around the country to manage climber’s activities in and around golden eagle nesting areas.

Please remain patient as ACSD attempts to reason with those involved—but also stand ready with pens in hand should we need your assistance in raising awareness about this issue through letter writing and signature campaigns!

Rock Mountain (& El Cajon Mountain – But Not the Climbing Area) - CNF Map Site
May, 2009

Access to El Cajon Mountain, west of El Cap Prow has been restored. According to the CNF, nesting golden eagles were confirmed at El Cajon Mountain (not the climbing area, west of the El Cap prow), but as of April it was determined that this nest failed. Eagles did not nest at Rock Mountain this year—there are no advisories or closures in effect. Please visit the CNF’s website for details.

As The Season Ends, Take Note:

As the end of golden eagle nesting season approaches, and local climbing ceases due to increasing back country temperatures, please be conscious when climbing picks up in the fall that it is important for climbers to avoid all active golden eagle nest sites starting in mid December of each year to allow eagles an opportunity to select a nest. Active sites, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), are those sites which eagles have selected to nest in within the last five years.  Avoiding active nests is the right thing to do; it is also legally required under the BGEPA (Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act) Eagle Management Guidelines.

The BGEPA also requires that no bald or golden eagle nest, regardless of its age, be “disturbed” without obtaining official permits from the FWS.  If you’re a first ascensionist, be prudent when eying a new line and think twice about your actions. Placing permanent anchors in or around a known eagle’s nest is not advised—it might also be illegal.

Background
February, 2009

In a series of collaborative meetings over the past few months, the Allied Climbers of San Diego have met with the Cleveland National Forest, representatives from several rec-user groups, and local environmental organizations, including the Wildlife Research Institute.  The purpose of these meetings, which were facilitated by a mediator from the Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, was to discuss formalizing an alternative to public land closures originally proposed by the CNF in December 2006.

The hope for these meetings was to develop a widely supportable Best Management Practice guideline for raptor management at recreation areas on the CNF. Though the outcome is not quite finalized and much work remains, significant and positive progress has been made, resulting in a draft CNF Pilot Raptor Management Program, Golden Eagle And Prairie Falcon Action Plan And Monitoring Protocol.

In general, for GE (golden eagle) nests, it establishes that, per legal protections afforded golden eagles under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA), for active GE nests—active is defined as a nest used within the last five years per U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guidelines—the Cleveland National Forest (CNF) will create, and the Allied Climbers of San Diego (ACSD) will FULLY support, closures: exact distances and other details are still being worked out, but restricted areas will be based on nesting status, viewshed, topography, and rec-use. This applies to active nests only—there are to be no closures for in-active or historical nesting areas as previously proposed.

Climbers should still avoid all GE active nest sites starting in mid December, such as El Cajon Mountain (not the climbing area, but west of the El Cap prow), Rock Mountain, and Glen Cliff. It is not only the right thing to do (avoid active GE nests), it is also legally required under the BGEPA that GE nests not be “disturbed.”

For PF (prairie falcon) nests (nests which have become active in a current breeding cycle, irrespective of whether a nest was used the previous year) the CNF will create, and ACSD will FULLY support, advisories: exact distances to be determined on a site by site basis by the CNF and ACSD working together to account for factors such as viewshed, topography and proximity of climbing routes.  Thank you for your continued support!

For more on this issue please see the following links:   <Discussion>  <Timeline>

**Important**

Please remember that not climbing near active raptor nests, spreading the word to others when nesting activity is observed, and self-policing within the climbing community – by stepping up and asking those you see climbing in an area where raptors are nesting to please stop – is the best way to minimize impacts to nesting raptors and to head off potential conflicts with land managers who otherwise might be faced with implementing closures. Please spread the word . . . Thank You