And if that is the case, that there is some legitimate "Batsto Natural Area" and there really was some legitimate reason to close it, the way it is done now is a waste of time, and impacts all of us. We have to park way out on Railroad Ave and the "bad guys" will just drive right over that sign. (which I heard is already cut down anyway?) If they were really serious about protecting it, they could move the closure down to the end of the road, carve out a little spot to park and put up a simple barrier in a place where there are no easy go arounds. That would legitimately stop damage from being done and allow us to still easily get to it and use it. That is why I think we need to continue to push hard to take the MAP completely off the table and start with a blank sheet of paper, where Rob can come to the table with a specific, legitimate goals and we can talk about solutions to those specific goals as opposed to the current MAP which is a "forbidden unless permitted" model.
Agreed Boyd. It seemed that the description and mapping in the first brochure you linked to appeared to be a much smaller area.
Don, I took your advice from the Locks Bridge thread and used the advantage of the low water level to investigate around the lock on Labor Day. I agree that this road should be open. Another road that should be opened is the access road just above this one, the one that leads to the head of the Ponds. However, the road that runs along the river that connects these two access roads should be closed. Sadly, this was a delightful footpath only ten years ago until someone decided to drive a vehicle down it - then others followed.
While I agree with you this road is not needed. It has been there longer then 10 years. In 2008 the forest fire cleared it out and it has more traffic both of which makes it more visable. It can be easily seen in the 1963 aerial and even earlier.
