Current Projects
Friends of Banner Mountain monitors local emerging issues that may impact our mountain and our members. This includes maintaining our Banner Mountain Firewise certification. Projects range from ensuring sufficient volunteers to support our goals, providing chipping and green waste disposal opportunities, and supporting like minded organizations focused on the health and safety of the forest.
Idaho Maryland Mine EIR
FBM Response Letter to EIR
Little Deer Creek Landscape Resilience Project: Ensuring a Safer, Healthier Forest
Past Projects
Idaho Maryland Mine – Rise Grass Valley (2020-2024)
In November 2019 a Canadian mining corporation, Rise Grass Valley, filed an application with Nevada County for a new use permit to start underground mining at the long-closed Idaho Maryland Mine. See the figure below and the County webpage for more info https://nevadacountyca.gov/3195/Idaho-Maryland-Mine—Rise-Grass-Valley).
In December 2021 the County released the draft Environmental Impact Report for the project. FBM reviewed the document and concluded that the proposed project could have many potential adverse impacts on Banner Mountains residents and the environment, including impacts on:
- Hydrology and Water Quality, Water Supply and Wells
- Hazards and Hazardous Materials
- Noise/Vibration
- Traffic
- Biological Resources
FBM submitted a detailed comment letter to Nevada County on the draft EIR (FBM Response Letter to EIR describing our concerns and urging the County to reject the project.
In February 2024 FBM representatives attended the two-day public hearing on the project and spoke to
express our opposition to the project because of the impact it could have on Banner Mountain and its residents. On February 16, 2024, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted down Rise Grass Valley’s proposed re-opening of the mine.
FBM will continue to vigilantly follow this issue, as Rise Grass Valley has threatened to sue Nevada County and continues to pursue its efforts to re-open the mine.
Cascade Canal
Cascade Canal Trail Litigation (2017- 2019)
In 2016 a new landowner acquired the property adjacent to the Gracie Road and Banner Lava Cap Road trailhead of the Lower Cascade Canal Trail along the Nevada Irrigation District. In spring of 2017 the landowner put up two locked gates, one at the upper Gracie Road trailhead and another about one- quarter mile upstream. FBM met with the landowner and offered to build a privacy fence to address the landowner’s concerns about privacy and security, but the offer was rejected, and the gates remained locked.
For over half a century the public had enjoyed unchallenged access to the Cascade Canal Trail. FBM believed that the public had a legal right to continue use of the trail. To affirm that right, in September 2017 FBM filed a complaint with the Nevada County Superior Court challenging the landowner’s efforts to exclude the public from this portion of the trail. Link: 2017 Complaint
In April 2018 FBM engaged the services of a professional mediator to try and reach an amicable solution that would not involve an expensive trial, and FBM board members met with the landowner on numerous occasions to offer solutions. All FBM’s efforts at mediation and settlement were unsuccessful because the landowner refused to consider any alternative to the locked gates.
Trial was set for March 20, 2019, but the day before the trial the landowner’s attorney reached out to FBM’s attorneys to discuss a settlement. On March 21, 2019, Judge Tice-Raskin signed a Stipulated Judgment (Stipulated Judgement – 3-21-19) affirming that the public has an easement and the right to walk, jog, ride bikes, and fish on the gated portion of the trail starting at the upper Gracie Road trailhead. On April 2, 2019, the western gate was removed, and the Gracie Road trailhead gate was
unlocked. The Gracie Road gate remains in place but can never be locked again.
FBM takes pride in its successful legal challenge to ensure public access to this beloved Banner Mountain trail. We are forever grateful to the many Banner Mountain residents who supported us and made generous financial contributions to our legal fund.
For more perspectives on FBM’s efforts to preserve public access to the Cascade Canal Trail, Read Jordan Fisher Smith Union Article and read the Hank Meals Union Article.
Read Jordan Fisher Smith Union Article