Allied Climbers of San Diego
A Year & A Half in Review

* * * 15 Significant Milestones * * *

1. December 2006 - Future Founding Members learn of Cleveland National Forest (CNF) proposed closures.
2. Successful letter writing campaign developed, proposals challenged on merits of CNF claims and legal grounds. CNF responds with promise of performing proper review through an Environmental Assessment
3. Founding Members create Allied Climbers of San Diego – A Membership Based Climbers’ Advocacy Organization. ACSD incorporates as a 501(c)3 non-profit and launches the official website: http://www.alliedclimbers.org
4. ACSD becomes an official Access Fund Affiliated Local Climbing Organization (LCO)
5. ACSD signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the CNF to engage in collaborative partnerships. MOU provides for conflict resolution and development of beneficial recreational resource programs & projects
6. ACSD initiates request to CNF to have climbing trails & crags “designated” as official trails and rec-resources
7. Congressman Hunter & CA Assemblyman Anderson write letters to CNF requesting that the three climbing crags of El Cajon Mountain, Eagle Peak, & Corte Madera be designated as “official climbing resources”
8. Access Fund visits San Diego to coordinate joint strategy; identifies ACSD as most effective LCO Nationwide
9. ACSD receives grant from REI – purchases much needed tools, canopy, and education materials
10. ACSD manages several successful Volunteer Service Projects & Cleanups with City Parks, BLM, & CNF
11. ACSD reaches 250 member mark; sets goal of 500 members by January 2009 – Can we count you in?
12. ACSD maps access trails with GPS – work begins on official trail designation process with land managers
13. U.S. Forest Service instructs CNF that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act cannot be used to manage vacant habitat
14. CNF begins working with ACSD on Advisories for “active” golden eagle and prairie falcon nests
15. June 2008 – ACSD’s & the Access Fund’s continued involvement in working toward a win-win solution results in U.S. Forest Service funding upcoming collaborative dialogue under the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution to resolve the current conflict created by the original proposals made in December 2006 to close public lands.
    
    * Stakeholders – CNF, ACSD, multiple rec-user groups, and local environmental organizations
    * Purpose – Develop widely supported Best Management Practices (BMP) guidelines for CNF raptor management
    * Estimated Completion Date – TBD
    

STAY TUNED . . .