The Res - MDC Announcement

[ctnemba]

The MDC has released the following statement. No action has occurred to date, but you should be aware of this policy.

>To our guests:
>
>With military action under way in Iraq, it may be necessary to temporarily
>close the MDC's properties to the public, in the interest of public health
>and safety.
>
>The MDC has taken and is taking positive action to ensure the safety and
>protection of our water supplies and treatment facilities, as well as the
>safety and well being of guests. We remain in frequent contact with state
>emergency management personnel and national industry organizations and
>will work with them to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place.
>
>If it is deemed prudent to close the facilities temporarily, notification
>will be made via the news media, on the MDC's web site - www.themdc.com ;
>via the MDC's News Line, 860-278-7850, ext. 3456, and signs at the facilities.
>
>Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Let's hope that nothing more comes of this but if it does your respect of the MDC's action will be appreciated.

Regards,
John Turchi
pres., CTNEMBA

[I Are Baboon]

Well, I'd hate to see that happen since I ride there often, but they've gotta do what they've gotta do. There are other places to ride. :)

[MMcG]

I hope that they don't close the Reservoir since it is so close to my new job.

But if they do, we'll ride elsewhere.

IAB, what would be the best alternative site?

Looking forward to riding with you and MBC often this season.

Cheers,

Mark

[I Are Baboon]

IAB, what would be the best alternative site?

I guess that depends on how far you want to drive. :)

Pennwood (in Bloomfield?) is relatively close. Not my favorite place to ride because it's pretty much "ride out and ride back." Middlesex is about a half hour from your office if you are interested in a painful five mile loop. ;D

Getting closer to MTB season!!

[ctnemba]

Keep in mind MDC's intention in the event that a security closure is warranted that every attempt to minimize this action will be taken.

Penwood: Recommendation - explore if you wish to avoid an 'out and back'. BTW - hiked there yesterday in advance of a TM event planned for this coming Satuday (Mar.29 8am). Not the place to ride yet given water flow and mud on the trails.

[Drew]

After some consideration, it seems to me that closing the West Hartford reservoir would be a really bad decision for the MDC to make. It would be far worse for the rest of us.

First off, most of the people in the reservoir on a daily basis are local residents. Most of these people drink the water that the reservoir provides. What could be wrong with having hundreds of concerned citizens patrolling all areas of the reservoir on a daily basis looking for suspicious activity? Short of building an armored wall around the reservoir property, we all know anyone could slip in from any direction at any time they wished. MDC police could never patrol it as effectively as the hundreds of citizens the use the park daily.

Second, when does it reopen? What indicators does the MDC use to determine the terrorist threat is diminished enough to let people back on the trails. This stuff is going to go on for a long time, at least until America does some serious foreign policy rethinking. Does the closing allow the MDC the ability to reopen the reservoir in sections, or say just for hikers at first? Are there other reasons for wanting to close the reservoir? If they close West Hartford, is Nepaug next? This could set a dangerous precedent that everyone accepts at face value, because of the perceived threat to this country. The real threat here may the loss of the very liberties that we hold dear in our counrty.

[I Are Baboon]

How are the trail conditions there right now? Will it be rideable this upcoming weekend?