Letter to the Editor Warns Access to Trinidad Harbor in Jeopardy, Asks for Comments to Be Sent to Coastal Commission

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Kayaks at Trinidad Harbor. [Photo provided by Jason Self]

Kayaks at Trinidad Harbor. [Photo provided by Jason Self]

Our right to access the ocean in Trinidad is under threat. Once again, Trinidad Rancheria (the same group trying to build a 5 story junk hotel on the bluff overlooking the bay) is making moves to change this place forever, and not for the better.

They are trying to put Trinidad harbor into a federal trust, which means they no longer would have to adhere to California law guaranteeing public right to access the beach/ocean.

Obviously for me and my business, that’s not acceptable since we utilize that launch beach daily to run our tours. There is no other acceptable access within a hundred miles. I’m also willing to bet that the thousands of paddlers and skiff anglers who utilize launch beach aren’t going to like it either.

They won’t control the beach, but they will control the land that allows access to it.

I have specifically heard the CEO of Trinidad Rancheria on multiple occasions say “once the land is put into trust, we can do whatever we want and won’t have to adhere to California Coastal Commission laws anymore.”

If you’ve ever paddled Trinidad, you likely know how much Trinidad Rancheria hates kayakers/paddlers/divers and anyone else who accesses launch beach because they want to make money off of us. If the land is put into trust, they can charge for access, deny your access for any reason, or block it all together.

This is a really big deal. If you enjoy public access to Trinidad Bay, please submit comments to the CCC by 5pm FRIDAY MARCH 1st! That’s this Friday!

Info on how to submit your comments below:

Jason Self
Owner at Kayak TrinidadInfo on how to submit your comments below: Email goes to CA Coastal Commission: [email protected] Reference agenda item on March 7: CD 0006-18 Must be submitted by Friday March 1, 5pm

 

UPDATE: Trinidad Rancheria Chairman’s Response To Letter To The Editor Related To Access To Trinidad Harbor

PLEASE NOTE: Contact the California Coastal Commission, NOT the California Conservation Corps. The Corps has been receiving calls on this. If you wish to call, the Coastal Commission phone number is (707) 826-8950.

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23 Comments
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Dan F
Guest
Dan F
5 years ago

This seems like more of a Eurotrash (White Folks) problem obviously the tribal elders or whomever is making the decisions has been taking pages out of their playbook!!!

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan F

What type of trash are you?

JRWhitmore
Guest
JRWhitmore
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan F

Racist, hate much.

Humboldt Original
Guest
Humboldt Original
5 years ago

Will Mr Sundberg listen to counsel and recuse himself from this decision during his very last meeting as a Coastal Commissioner?

Or will he continue to ignore the people and the laws; instead advancing the interests of his own little corrupt circle?

Salty
Guest
Salty
5 years ago

Nailed it. He’s an inside man planted to move Trinidad Rancherias agenda forward against the will of the greater community. First the hotel, now this. He’s set to become executive director of Trinidad Rancheria once his term ends. Totally biased.

Joe McKenzie
Guest
Joe McKenzie
5 years ago

So you are saying that the original people of this land have no right to interfere with the changes that were made to it by settelers who conquered and killed them?

Humboldt Original
Guest
Humboldt Original
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe McKenzie

Yurok Tribe and Tsurai Ancestral Society are both opposed to the transfer. They are the Trinidad Originals.

The Rancheria is a federal construct and has no basis in hereditary lines. Sundbergs are carpetbaggers.

Casino payouts for members only. Big joke on us all.

Salty
Guest
Salty
5 years ago

This!

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe McKenzie

who’s building the hotel that will literally double the amount of fecal coliform currently detected? marine terrace geology is the opposite of rocket science. water seeps down, hits bedrock and follows topography to the ocean.

Bozo
Guest
Bozo
5 years ago

What does the CCC have to do with putting the land in a federal trust ?
Is it their decision… or… ?

What does the tribe want with the trust ? Block the beach and charge access… or… ?

Sounds like this is a good project for an investigative report.

rio david
Guest
rio david
5 years ago
Reply to  Bozo

sounds like a power play to me. it’s over reaching the law of the land. we all have rights of access to public land.

Small Fry
Guest
Small Fry
5 years ago

Wow! That would suck!! I hope this is stopped! Kayaking the bay should be open to everyone!

country bumpkin
Guest
country bumpkin
5 years ago

I use the beach launch at trinidad harbor so i know how convenient and valuable it is, however i don’t understand how people feel they should have free access and use of private land. I believe the state of California charges $8 bucks a day to use the coastal access at Patrick’s point and there is not even boat launch or alter abled access to most beaches. The Rancheria maintains restrooms and deals with parking and trash issues which takes time and money. Is it unreasonable to charge a day use fee to offset those costs as well as encourage people to carpool to a crowded recreational area? Does Mr. Self operate his kayak tours for profit or as a community service? If he is charging customers for the access he provides would he be willing to clean the bathrooms or haul the trash for others who are not his clients? It may not be as simple as all that but one thing i know is true. No matter what they tell you, aint nothing free.

Darin
Guest
Darin
5 years ago

The ocean is private?

country bumpkin
Guest
country bumpkin
5 years ago
Reply to  Darin

C’mon man. There are lots of places that are not private but that does not mean that there is convenient public access. You can get into the ocean at Eureka and Crescent City, feel free to paddle up to trinidad. All I’m saying is that there is such thing as private property and just because others may like it doesn’t give them a right to it. I can drive on the street that you live on but you probably wouldn’t take kindly to me parking in your driveway and using your garbage cans. Also could you make sure the doors are unlocked in case i need to take a piss. Unless there is some public funding used to maintain and improve the private property surrounding the trinidad launcher beach it is not unreasonable for the land owner to limit access or charge a fee for the use of their facilities. I like to abalone dive and spearfish but there are miles of coastline that i cannot access by land because it is private property

Average Joe
Guest
Average Joe
5 years ago

That’s the beauty of Humboldt County – lots of free access to beaches. That’s why local citizens opposed the State Parks takeover of coastal properties from Trinidad to Moonstone in the mid 1970’s and formed the Humboldt North Coast Land Trust (renamed in 2012 to the Trinidad Coastal Land Trust to avoid confusion with the Northcoast Regional Land Trust) – they didn’t want the State Park controlling access and charging fees. Lots of low income people launch small boats, kayaks, even stand-up paddle boards to set crab pots and fish in the harbor. I support Native American rights but this isn’t about their rights – this is about public access and ensuring this sensitive habitat area (called an Area of Special Biological Significance because of the highly productive kelp beds around Trinidad Head) is afforded the highest level of environmental protection – which it will lose if it goes into trust status. Trinidad is the only harbor and dock between Crescent City and Eureka. It needs to stay under State of California jurisdiction – not Trinidad Rancheria or Bureau of Indian Affairs. The State of California paid for the new pier and put a condition requiring public access through 2032 but after that there are no guarantees. The City will also lose bed tax and sales tax if it goes into trust status but will still have to provide police, fire, water, road maintenance (to the harbor).

Chairokee
Guest
Chairokee
5 years ago

Whats funny is, blue lake tribe is the same way, they try to really look good in the publics eye, but its a smoke screen, they are ruthless in public service, give a inch , they try to take a mile, look at the statue,blue lake owns lost coast o.p. look how they wont print the truth.

Just Asking
Guest
Just Asking
5 years ago
Reply to  Chairokee

They own what? Lost Coast OP???

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
5 years ago
Reply to  Just Asking

Yes. They own http://lostcoastcommunications.com …. more than just LoCo.

Thomas Marking
Guest
Thomas Marking
5 years ago

I’ll research the letter by Garth Sundberg and see what’s up, but personally, I’ve never had any problems or issues with the folks at Trinidad (Tribes or otherwise). I’ve used that beach to launch my kayak or drift boat for decades and have never had any issues. I appreciate their restrooms and eat a their restaurant as a way of paying my share. They ask beach launchers to park on the beach so you don’t use up their parking spaces. That seems reasonable, does is not? Perhaps you should offer to pay them a launch fee, since you use that area as a business, and your customers are using their facilities? I don’t think trashing them is going to get you very far in your concerns., maybe negotiating might be more constructive.

Jason
Guest
Jason
5 years ago
Reply to  Thomas Marking

I paid a lot of money last year to do just that. They harassed me and my staff the entire time. It was actually worse treatment than when I did not pay them.

I have no problem with a day use fee. I have a problem with our right to access the beach and environmental issues being at the discretion of TR and no longer garanteed by state law if the land is put into trust

Jason
Guest
Jason
5 years ago
Marna Powell
Guest
Marna Powell
2 years ago

I led kayak trips out of Trinidad harbor for 16 years, with Northcoast Adventures; Explore Northcoast Kayak Club; and my own company, Kayak Zak’s. I sold Kayak Zak’s and retired in 2015. During those 16 years the Trinidad Rancheria purchased Trinidad Pier and the surrounding area. They made significant, expensive improvements including a water treatment facility to accommodate new public restrooms and building an entire new pier, making vast environmental, esthetic and user-friendly improvements. My personal experiences were nothing but positive with every individual I encountered whether they were management, workers, Tribal Board Members or whatever. Everyone was always helpful and friendly to me and my customers. I can say the same of the commercial fishermen.
That said, my staff and I also made every effort to never block other beach launchers’ access with kayaks, truck, trailer, gear, people, whatever. We respected the federal rules to stay 300 feet away from marine mammals and we participated as best as we could to be good community partners. I also had very good relations with others in the industry. When Jason Self came into Humboldt he turned into the exception.

My personal experience with Mr Self is that he has not been a good community partner. He would show up at various events, take photos as if he was participating, post them on social media but not actually do the beach cleanup or Blessing of the Fleet, or volunteer with whatever the nonprofit event was that he was posting to be a part of. He also tended to violate the marine mammal protection act. I can go on. I’ve been silent about these things for too many years. If you can’t say something nice about a person…

Needless to say, I am happy to hear this ruling. I don’t believe the Tribe has an interest in keeping the public off the beach. I do believe that there are more humans than ever trying to access our beaches and we all need to be polite and not block the launch site with our kayaks or various toys.