Q&A with Matt Samson, Marin Water Board

October 22, 2024 | At a recent A4B Community Meeting, Matt Samson of the Marin Water Board hosted a Q&A to help shed light on the suit against the Pilot Projects. To kick-off the discussion, Matt reminisced about his 2022 campaign and all the ways the mountain bike community supported his run, including going door-to-door and educating him on the history of the watershed. He quipped, “It was awesome. Especially because, as a mountain biker who lives here, I thought I understood the issues, but then I got grilled by Vernon!”

Moving on to the lawsuit, Matt started by putting the suit into perspective and highlighted its weakness, “We have created a solid program with these pilots, and it’s a very small select group of people who have put their name on the lawsuit,” he said. According to Matt, the data provided in the suit are simply false and not backed by science. “Much of it has been proven wrong in court and the suit is not focused on the environment. While there is a strong argument in the case around safety, safety is not environmental.” Further, the claims made in the suit are not provided by certified specialists in species identification or conservation. “There’s very little here that is solid,” Matt said.

Most importantly, he says, “MMWD intends to fight the suit, but first there is a process to undertake with the court that MMWD must move ahead with.” Matt explained that one thing that could happen at the November 1 hearing, underwhelming as it would be, is that the judge could allow e-bikes on the mountain but hold up the trails component. Still, MMWD has provided a response to every argument in the plaintiff’s case and mediation is slated for mid-November.

Q&A

Question: Do you have to present changes that meet their request at the mediation?

No. The judge’s decision on Nov. 1 is about 1 thing: halting the projects until the case is settled or not. Basically, lift the injunction or don’t lift it. Whether it’s lifted or not, we will go through mediation and the trial will continue. Just know that 6 miles of trails are the trails. We’re not backing off. Neither will we back-off on ebikes.

The thing is, we have many places on the mountain where we could bring in restrictions like to, say, horses, which we know produce manure and ruin the trails, they’re bad for the watershed.  But rather than do that, we mediate the issues. We’re not interested nor want to ban people from their chosen recreational activities.

Question: What happens re: fines if the trails don’t open on Nov. 1?

It’s a concern. The MMWD Board is will not be changing policy and rangers should provide enforcement, but it is also strongly encouraging the community, you all, to please play by the rules.

Question. So what can we do?

Let us do the work. We know you’re behind us and we have facilitated more public conversations over the last few years than ever before. We have had plenty of opportunities for all parties to come and talk but those opportunities have been ignored by the people involved in the suit. There was a time to participate, now we’re moving forward.

Question: Are the MMWD lawyers considering the angle of this being a SLAPP suit (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation)?

Not specifically but one angle the lawyers are taking is that the community has elected board members, the policies have been set by those members who are rightfully overseeing this. Let us do what the public has asked for in a way that aligns with our responsibilities for the health of the watershed.

Question: Will the suit affect rate payers?

It won’t affect them. We can’t recover the costs of the lawsuit through rate increases. Funds will come from the watershed budget, so a reduction in some services yet to be determined.

Question: Should we still come out for trail work?

We wouldn’t expect the mountain bike community to come out to help out on trails that they get nothing out of, but the attitude of wanting to work on trails regardless of who is using them is an attitude that this community brings, and it means so much to us! We won’t tell you no.

Question: Why do you support Dave Keatley?

Dave is smart and respectful. He faces some challenges when it comes to his competition in terms of the messaging they’re presenting and how his opponent is aligned with the environmentalists. Larry Russel is a smart guy but he was in the driver’s seat when the RMP went off the rails, and when we almost ran out of water, and more. Dave is not that kind of candidate and he’s been interested in taking on this role for a long time.

Question: How is what’s happening today the same or different from the past?

What’s different is we’re not stopping. We’re not backing off. In the past, when someone who calls themselves a scientists makes some claim, whatever the issue, whether it was trail use related or land management related, we sent staff off to investigate.  Without actual scientific evidence, it’s a waste of time and it slows the progress that the mountain needs. The mountain needs management to be sustainable, including things like clearing and controlled burns and smarter recreation systems.

A4B Foundation and A4B Votes thank Matt for stopping by to answer our questions.

Do you have questions? Email Matt at mwsamson@gmail.com.