The Modoc Line is a railway corridor which runs from the McArthur siding, 12 miles south of Alturas, California approximately 85 miles to Wendel, California. Lassen and Modoc Counties and the Bureau of land Management (BLM) have joined in a partnership to preserve and maintain the linear integrity of the corridor for potential future rail service and potential use as an underground utility corridor.

The corridor is currently owned by the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) through a combination of fee title ownership, rights-of-way and easements and other mechanisms. Acquisition by a governmental or non profit organization would maintain the corridor and provide environmental and economic benefits for the area.  Absent such acquisition, the corridor would be fragmented as lands would revert to underlying owners and the UP’s fee title land would be sold piecemeal.

On September 1, 2006, the Surface Transportation Board granted an extension of the railbanking negotiating period until March 3, 2007. During this period, the parties may continue negotiations with UP to acquire the Modoc Line.

MANAGEMENT PLAN

It is proposed that each County assume ownership of that portion of the Modoc Line right-of-way within its respective boundaries. As the underlying landowner for more than half of the 85 mile corridor, the BLM will manage the Line as a trail resource for public use and enjoyment on an interim basis. It is further proposed that Lassen and Modoc Counties and the Alturas and Eagle Lake Field Offices of the BLM enter into a joint powers agreement outlining responsibilities relative to the Modoc Line corridor. Proposed goals of the joint powers agreement include:

1. Maintaining the corridor for a wide array of public uses including trail recreation, access to BLM 
    lands for hunting and other appropriate activities, and educational and interpretive
    opportunities. Maintenance of the corridor also provides the opportunity for potential future
    restoration of rail service and underground utility lines.

 2. Fostering a safe and inviting environment for the widest possible array of user groups.

 3. Enhancing and conserving the natural resources of the corridor and protecting the water
     quality of the area.

 4. Limiting the impact to, and disturbance of, adjacent private lands.

 5. Encouraging responsible use of adjacent public lands.

Upon acquisition, a public planning process will be undertaken by the Counties and the BLM to develop a Modoc Line Trail Plan to achieve the proposed goals of the joint powers agreement. Specific objectives of the Trail Plan will include:

Identification of Modoc Line access points

• Identification of appropriate trail uses (ie. motorized or non-motorized)
• Identification of signage needs
• Identification of needed railroad grade improvements (surface compaction, etc…)
• Identification of needed facility improvements (cattleguards, interpretive sites, etc…)
• Development of a Trail Plan implementation schedule

NEXT STEPS

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy and the American Land Conservancy are partnering with the Counties and the BLM to secure appraisal services to identify the fair market value of the corridor. The Lassen Land and Trails Trust has also contributed funding towards this effort. It is anticipated that the appraisal will be completed by the end of 2006. At the same time, a number of options for acquisition funding are being explored, including state agencies such as the Wildlife Conservation Board.