Rex Cleary, seated, Susanville district manager for the Bureau of Land Management, Monday signed deeds turning former Southern Pacific property in the Susan River Canyon over to the Rails to Trails project. Looking on were from left, Stan Bales of the BLM, Jim Bowler, a local title operations officer, and David Jay, supervisor of the Lassen National Forest.
RAILS TO TRAILS MILESTONE
December 2, 1980
Plans for development of a recreational trail through the Susan River Canyon were pushed an important step ahead Monday, when land for about five miles of the trail was deeded from Southern Pacific Railroad to a public trust.
“This is an important milestone,” commented Susanville BLM District Manager Rex Cleary as he signed grants. The parcels, on land administered by the BLM and the U. S. Forest Service, will be placed in a public trust for future development under the Rails to Trails conversion on which the agencies are now working.
A recent Congressional appropriation provided funds for the purchases.
Acquisition of all land adjacent to the abandoned Susanville to Westwood rail line is the essential first step in the trail development, BLM officials have noted. The agency is currently working with Beatty and Associates and some other private landowners for property which was transferred to private ownership when the railroad was abandoned in 1978.
Much of the property along the proposed trail corridor is already controlled by the BLM and the forest service.
The Rails to Trails plan calls for conversion of the 30-mile rail line to hiking, camping, day use and other recreational facilities. The plan has won strong local support as a means to preserve public access to the Susan River Canyon, a popular hunting, fishing and recreational area.
The BLM recently held public meetings in Susanville and Westwood and will use input in development of a trail management plan.
The rail line was originally built by Southern Pacific in the early 1900’s and connected to a main east-west line near Fernley, Nevada. It was built to haul lumber from Westwood mills.
