Humboldt County Acquires Easement at Brainard Mill Site for 1 Mile of the Humboldt Bay Trail
Aerial view from the North End of the Brainerd Site. [Image provided]
The County of Humboldt has acquired an easement from California Redwood Company, a subsidiary of Green Diamond Resource Company, to develop approximately 1 mile of the Humboldt Bay Trail on the levee surrounding the Brainard mill site. The easement provides the County of Humboldt the legal right to construct the trail while California Redwood Company retains ownership of the property. Funding to acquire the easement was provided through the State Transportation Improvement Program and administered by the California Department of Transportation.
The County of Humboldt is developing the Humboldt Bay Trail South project to expand the Humboldt Bay Trail by 4.25 miles and complete the connection between Eureka and Arcata along the Highway 101 corridor. The purpose of the project is to create opportunities for active transportation and to enhance access to Humboldt Bay. The easement at the Brainard mill site is one of the last remaining elements in the right-of-way phase of the project. The County of Humboldt expects to close escrow on a separate property acquisition by the end of February. The Coastal Commission is expected to consider issuance of a coastal development permit at its meeting scheduled for April 6-8.
“The Humboldt Bay Trail is an incredible destination for residents and visitors to be physically active while enjoying the scenic beauty of Humboldt Bay,” said Virginia Bass, Humboldt County Fourth District Supervisor. “Many residents visit the Eureka Waterfront Trail and the existing Humboldt Bay Trail segment through Arcata for walking, running, biking, skating, and traveling with mobility devices. Completion of the trail connection between Eureka and Arcata will be a major step forward for enabling non-motorized transportation options in the Humboldt Bay region. And the easement provided by California Redwood Company is especially valuable because it will enable the public to view and experience a beautiful corner of Humboldt Bay that was previously inaccessible. The County of Humboldt appreciates that California Redwood Company recognizes the many benefits of the Humboldt Bay Trail and was willing to incorporate the trail into its future plans for the Brainard property.”
“The Humboldt Bay Trail, when completed, will be a beautiful scenic link between Arcata and Eureka,” said Green Diamond Vice President and General Manager Jason Carlson. “We would like to thank the Humboldt County Public Works staff for their dedication to see this project through to completion and the County Board of Supervisors for their leadership and vision to support this project.”
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Map Highlighting Brainerd Site Trail in yellow.
Aerial view from the North End of the Brainerd Site
Aerial view of the middle and end of the Brainerd Site.
Wide view showing the majority of Eureka Waterfront Trail, Humboldt Bay Trail South and North.
Key Features of 9 segments of the Humboldt Bay Trail South.
Segment 1 – Connection to Eureka Waterfront Trail; Segment 2 – Cooperative use of Eureka Slough railroad bridge, new railings; Segment 3 – Widen rail prism, small shoreline armoring repair; Segments 5 & 6 – Levee trail with levee grading (raising/lowering), two bike-ped bridges; Segments 7 & 8 – Shoreline armoring repair, remove rails/ties, raise rail prism 1-2 feet, widen rail prism, remove eucalyptus trees, bypass one billboard, connect to new Indianola Interchange; Segment 9 – Shoreline armoring repair, stabilize railroad crossing, bike-ped bridge, widen rail prism, driveway crossing; Various – Cable barrier fence between trail and Highway 101
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That’s cool. But won’t this all be underwater in 30-40 years?
Probably not. As long as they build the bridges high enough to compensate, raising the trail itself will be relatively simple
The entire trail itself would need to be elevated.
That’s what I thought. Hey- I’m in favor of trails and of this one also. But I do have questions about the expense and the longevity. I saw how much expensive work got done on the part of the “trail” coming from Arcata. Trails are cool but this one is being built w/ lots of compacted gravel and then getting paved also- I’m sure there’s a nice profit margin built in and lots of overhead costs to go along. So it’s not just a simple trail…and with the rise in the water from climate change is this still a good investment? That’s my question…
I understand. That’s what I said
Not likely. Sea level rise is 2 to 3 mm/year or 2 to 3 cm/decade. 1 inch = 2.54 cm so level rise is roughly 1”/decade. So, in 30 to 40 years we might have 3 to 4 inches sea level rise. This analysis ignores subsidence.
Thank you
That unused mill site could be used as a place to house/feed all the local homeless, operate a drug-treatment/mental-health facility while being a laboratory and testing site for how our culture is to treat some of the difficult problems our government is apparently unable to handle these days. All that is needed is political will.
Horrible location for that use. It’s also a mill. there is zero infrastructure that would work. Maybe a couple run down bathrooms?
The site is far from unused. Several companies operate out of there.
That’s was I was thinking too.
Eventually the tarp people will overrun the site and local governments will be forced to use public money to build a new Sanitarium/Eco-village for the least productive people on earth.
I used to really be into the idea of pedestrian trails alongside natural features like the bay.
But now, It’s almost as if, since we don’t have the political will to build internment camps for the mentally homeless, we build what essentially become their trails and park benches.?
It is true that a lot of the hike and bike trails are used as homeless highways and places for homeless to sleep. Would be nice to have a bicycle cop riding the trails to keep order as necessary. I’ve never seen a bicycle cop on Hammond Trail.
”Internment camp” would be a hard sell, how about “Life skills and healing commune”?
There have been a few times when I would’ve felt a little more comfortable with a bike cop around, but, that’s a looooonnngg trail. Hammond won’t get a bike cop. Cops are city. Hammond is McKinleyville. McKinleyville is county. I’ve never seen a sheriff on a motorcycle let alone a bicycle. Horse maybe.
With all due respect to bicycle cops (all the ones I’ve met have been way cool), aside from presence and tickets to those willing to stand still for one, I don’t see what more a bike cop would do. Imagine this: Bike cop sees some nefarious activity in the brush. Delinquents scatter. Cop dismounts and goes to foot. When cop is 20yds away, around a thick brushy corner, another ne’er-do-well emerges and swipes the bike with all that sweet gear. And a sheriff’s horse can’t get through the briar patch like the rabbits can.
I am for the trail though. And I will use it as recreation. 20yrs ago I would’ve used it to commute.
Totally rad Dudes, Dudettes, Dudorinos!. This vision will stand.
I think… The vision… Will sink…
Submarine rides would you believe?
A ridiculous waste of taxpayer money. It will be a transient conduit, disturb waterfowl, and cost a fortune to maintain, which it won’t be. I can see the litter , garbage and transients already. All this while our roads crumble and our bridges need replacement.
Now just cut down those dangerous, nasty, invasive eucalyptus trees!
A friend of mine had a large limb come out of one of those trees and go through his windshield. Luckily it landed in the passenger side of his pickup or it would have killed him.
As someone who regularly bikes the Arcata end of this trail, I’m really excited by this news. But transients don’t bother me and I believe the benefits to qaulity-of-life far outweigh the costs. But I could very well be an ignoramous. I’ll enjoy my bikes rides in ignorant bliss.