Board Identifies Unauthorized Trails on Reservoir Land via AllTrails App; Staff Moves Forward with Removal and Signage Efforts

On November 3, staff reported to the Water and Sewer Board that unapproved trails on third-party mapping apps, notably AllTrails, are increasing trespassing on sensitive reservoir and watershed land. Hikers have been using these unauthorized listings, leading to environmental concerns. Staff found unapproved trails during their review and contacted AllTrails’ legal team for removal of these inaccuracies; the company requested formal documentation before taking action. The board’s attorney and staff are collaborating with AllTrails to eliminate erroneous routes. While there are approved trails, such as Halfway Brook, many paths listed on the app are unauthorized. The board discussed enhancing signage at reservoir entrances, including ‘no trespassing’ and ‘no dumping’ notices, and suggested compiling local topography and a comprehensive inventory of approved trails. As of the meeting, no enforcement actions were taken beyond legal requests to the app provider; staff will continue to assess additional mapping apps to address the issue.

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