National Park Service's Nearly Final Dog Walking Restrictions in GGNRA
As outlined in the National Park Service's Final Environmental Impact Statement released December 8, 2016, dog walking recreation will be banned or severely restricted in the following 22 sites throughout Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). It would be the greatest loss of recreational use since GGNRA was established in 1972. The federal government will spend $2.6 million annually to hire rangers to enforce the new rule.
SAN FRANCISCO
Baker Beach: All off-leash dog walking recreation will be eliminated. Dogs allowed on leash at northern half of beach and on Coastal Trail. Dogs banned from southern half of beach.
Crissy Field: Off-leash dog walking recreation will be cut by 60%. Dogs allowed off-leash at Central Beach and middle of airfield. On leash the rest of airfield and on Promenade. Dogs banned from East Beach and from Western Beach.
Fort Funston: Dog walking recreation area will be cut by 60%. Dogs allowed off-leash at beach from Sand Ladder north to North Access Trail, and at Chip Trail (upper level). Dogs banned from the beach at the North Access Trail north to stairwell 21 at Ocean Beach. All other trails on leash or no dogs.
Fort Mason: Off-leash dog walking recreation will be eliminated from Great Meadow. Dogs allowed off-leash at corner of Laguna Street and Bay Street, and on leash at Great Meadow and some other places. Dogs banned from half of overall area.
Fort Point: Dog walking recreation will be allowed on leash.
Fort Miley: All off-leash dog walking recreation will be eliminated. Dogs allowed on leash at most trails. People with more than three dogs are banned.
Lands End: All off-leash dog walking recreation will be eliminated. Dogs allowed on leash at most trails. People with more than three dogs are banned.
Ocean Beach: Dog walking recreation area will be cut by 80%. Dogs allowed off-leash from stairwell 21 north to the Cliff House. Dogs banned from stairwell 21 south to Fort Funston.
Sutro Heights Park: Dogs walking recreation will be allowed on leash. People with more than three dogs are banned.
MARIN COUNTY
Off-leash dog walking recreation will be banned on all trails and beaches, with the exception of Rodeo Beach, a remote location with treacherous surf. On-leash trails cut from 24 miles to just 8 miles in Marin County.
Homestead Valley: Off-leash dog walking recreation will be banned from all fire roads and trails. Dogs allowed on leash at some trails.
Fort Baker: On leash dog walking recreation will be allowed at parade ground and some trails.
Marin Headlands: Off-leash dog walking recreation will be banned from all fire roads and trails. Dogs on leash will be banned from all but several trails. No loop options. (Maps do not show detail of trails.)
Muir Beach: Off-leash dogs will be banned from Muir Beach. There will be no access, even on leash, to any of the fire roads in or around Muir Beach.
Oakwood Alta: Off-leash dog walking recreation will be banned from all fire roads and trails. Dogs allowed on leash at some trails.
Rodeo Beach: Off-leash dog walking recreation will be allowed at beach, and at northern end when lagoon surface water and ocean are not connected. Dogs allowed on leash at some trails. Dogs off-leash banned from southern beach and all trails.
Stinson Beach: Dog walking is banned entirely from the beach.
SAN MATEO COUNTY
The only off-leash dog walking in San Mateo County GGNRA will be 3 acres at Rancho Corral de Tierra in El Granada (out of 5,400 acres), 14 miles of on-leash dog walking trails will be cut, and people walking with more than three dogs will be banned (this includes everyone, not just professional dog walkers).
Milagra Ridge: Dog walking recreation area will be cut by 50%. No loop options.
Mori Point: Dog walking recreation area will be cut by 50%. Only one loop option for the more physically fit hikers with dogs. Dog walking banned on the less strenuous lower loop trails.
Rancho Corral de Tierra: Historical dog walking recreation trails will be cut by 50%.
Sweeney Ridge: Dog walking recreation area will be cut by 65%. People with dogs banned banned from Pacifica access.
NEW TRAIL RESTRICTIONS & ONEROUS PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS FOR PEOPLE WALKING MORE THAN 3 DOGS
There will be additional restrictions for anyone walking with more than three dogs in San Francisco and Marin, and they apply to everyone – not just professional dog walkers. (*Note: San Mateo County did not receive any trails for up to six dogs.)
· People with more than three dogs will need to purchase a permit, they will only be able to walk with more than three dogs and a maximum of six during weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
· They will not be allowed with more than three dogs at Lands End, Fort Miley and Sutro Heights.
· They will also be restricted from certain areas at places like Crissy Field and Baker Beach that allow dog walking. The maps that accompany the rule are unclear where these additional restrictions will take effect.
· The tables in the rule list where dog walkers with more than three dogs will be restricted regardless of whether they are designated for dog walking.
MONITORING SYSTEM
A monitoring-based management program is part of the rule. It means that if people do not comply with the new rule, the GGNRA Superintendent may arbitrarily change the status of any area without going through the required public comment period. For example, the few remaining off-leash areas could be changed to on leash or no dogs, and on leash could be changed to no dogs. There is no criteria for what level of non-compliance would trigger a change or how it is recorded. Furthermore, the rule allows the Superintendent to make closures in anticipation of impacts by dogs before they even occur.
ENFORCEMENT/HARASSMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DOGS
The rule directs law enforcement rangers to engage people walking a dog by asking them for proof of rabies vaccination, proof of dog license, and proof the dog has immediate "recall." Voice and Sight control has been redefined to mean a dog that is within direct eyesight of the dog walker and that the dog walker is able to both immediately recall directly to his or her side, without regard to circumstances or distractions, and attach a leash to the dog’s collar. The dog walker must demonstrate this ability when requested to do so by an authorized person. GGNRA will spend $2.6 million annually to hire rangers to enforce the new rule.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES