Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area RTMP
Final Road and Trail Management Plan
The Final Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area Road and Trail Management Plan with Appendices and the Notice of Determination has been approved and complete as of December 2024.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Response to Comments
The Final Environmental Review (Initial Study/Negative Declaration) to include response to comments on the Draft Initial Study/Negative Declaration was prepared for the Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area Road and Trail Management Plan. Copies of filed documents are available by emailing a request to trails@parks.ca.gov.
Introduction and Background
Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) is in eastern Sacramento County, 20 miles east of downtown Sacramento and 3 miles south of U.S. Highway 50. It comprises of approximately 1,344 acres of state lands, of which approximately 836 acres are currently devoted to off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation. Prairie City SVRA is a showcase for OHV recreation and frequented by the local community. The park offers OHV enthusiasts a variety of interesting terrains and trails. Park elevations range from 240 to 350 feet above sea level. OHV recreational opportunities include trails and tracks for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), four-wheel drive vehicles (4x4 vehicles), recreational OHVs (ROV/SXS/UTV), karts, and quarter midget vehicles.
The purpose of the Road and Trail Management Plan (RTMP) is to provide specific guidance and direction for implementing the goals and guidelines of the 2016 Prairie City SVRA General Plan. The RTMP is a comprehensive planning document that examines the SVRA’s existing system of roads and provides specific direction for their long-term construction, maintenance, and management. It considers current and potential public use, park operations, and the protection and enhancement of cultural and natural resources to ensure recreational trail opportunities are made available at their fullest potential. Comprehensive trail planning also considers regional recreational opportunities and connectivity and includes extensive public outreach and input into the design of new trails and experiences.
Specifically, the plan will:
- Design a trail system/trail tread that can receive regular grooming and offer challenges desired by the SVRA visitors;
- Design new or modify existing trails for specific types of motorized vehicles (e.g., 4x4, all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, and Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles);
- Design new or modify existing trails for non-motorized recreation opportunities;
- Make recommendations to keep and adopt, eliminate or re-align non-system (user-created) trails;
- Make recommendations to restore, eliminate, or re-align roads and trails that are not environmentally or ecologically sustainable;
- Prioritize maintenance needs;
- Identify projects that will improve circulation, connectivity between park use areas, and reduce conflict between user groups; and,
- Identify potential trail facilities, such as staging areas, restrooms, and other visitor service facilities.
Individual maps from the planning process are available for download below.
This map set shows Existing Parkwide Routes, Land Cover/Vegetation, Soil Erosion, Easements and Infrastructure, Trail Erosion, Wetlands, and Park Location Maps recently developed during the PCSVRA RTMP planning process.
This map set identifies unstable landscapes, aquatic environments, and other landscape features within Prairie City SVRA.
Road and Trail Structures Problem Severity
This map shows structural road and trail problems within Prairie City SVRA.
The map shows the potential for trail and road features to impact water resources within Prairie City SVRA and the condition of drainage structures along roads and trails.
This map shows the sustainability of roads and trails within Prairie City SVRA and general recommendations for maintenance.