Auburn Quarry (ASRA) Update

All,
As many of you know, CRAGS has been activly working on re-opening climbing access in the Aburn Quarry since 2008. We are on the cusp of a significant breakthrough.

The federal and state agencies that administer the Auburn State Recreation Area, where the Auburn Quarry is located, have recently negotiated a funding agreement that will allow the ASRA to stay open, unlike many of its state park counterparts. As part of that agreement, ASRA will continue the general management plan update it began years ago, but halted in 2010 when funding ran out. Although ASRA officials have declined to give a firm completion date for the management plan update, they have comitted to recognizing climbing as a legitimate recreational use in the plan update once it is complete.

In the mean time, both federal and state officials have agreed to a limited lift of the ban on climbing in the Quarry, so long as CRAGS commits to manage the impacts of climbers by providing certain facilities and services. Specifically, ASRA officials have asked that CRAGS provide and maintain toilet, garbage, and signage facilities in the Quarry. CRAGS is presently negotiating the terms of an agreement with ASRA officials that would effectuate this deal.

In order to make climbing in the Auburn Quarry a reality, however, CRAGS must raise enough money to install and maintain the above mentioned facilities for the next year. Critical to this effort is a grant application CRAGS submitted to the Access Fund, which has supported CRAGS' efforts to re-open the Auburn Quarry. Recently, the Access Fund posted its "Rate It" campaign, which gives climbers (members and nonmembers alike) the opportunity to rate projects which have applied for grant funding. CRAGS encourages all interested climbers to go to http://www.accessfund.org/site/c.tmL5KhNWLrH/b.8011009/k.1229/2012_Round_1_Grant_Survey/apps/fc/form.asp

and provide the Access Fund with your feedback about supporting CRAGS with a grant. Additionally, please consider supporting the Access Fund by becoming a member if you are not already.

Finally, in the comming months, CRAGS will need your support, both financial, and otherwise to make re-opening the Aburn Quarry a reality. Please keep an eye out future opportunities to be a part of this process.

Thank you for your support,
CRAGS