Land Revitalization Success Stories | tPA #560-F22-286

December 2022

Planning for Sustainable Brownfield Redevelopment in Rural Recreation

MARIPOSA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA - MILLER GULCH SITE REUSE DESIGN

PROJECT DESCRIPTION	

•	Community: Mariposa County, California

•	EPA Regional Lead: Kelly Garbach, garbach.kelly@epa.gov

•	Site and Use: Former cement plant along a river and planned trail.

•	Technical Assistance: Conceptual Site Design

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Miller Gulch is a rural site adjacent to the Merced River between Briceburg
and El Portal, CA, and was the location of historic gold and limestone mining
and quarrying for the Yosemite Portland Cement Company. The site sits along
the Former Yosemite Valley Railroad Alignment. Mariposa County is leading
an interagency and community-based effort to plan the Merced River Trail, a
non-motorized recreational trail along the historic rail grade.

PROJECT CHALLENGES	

Several structural debris remain from the cement production mill, as well as
soil contamination. The county is reviewing site cleanup options to remove
debris and excavate, relocate, and cap all contaminated soil on site. The site
is also in an area at high risk for wildfires in drier months and flooding from
snowmelt runoff in colder months.

EPA'S TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Figure 2; Conceptual Design Perspective Rendering of
the Miller Gulch Site

EPA's Land Revitalization team supported Mariposa County by:

•	Public Meeting and Design Workshop: EPA worked with the county,
the National Parks Service and local stakeholders to conduct a site
visit and held a two-day public meeting and design workshop. The input
from the meeting and workshop led to design options for suite reuse
and phased restoration,

•	Wildfire Resiliency Elements: With direction from the county, EPA.
incorporated wildfire resilient aspects into the reuse design including:
the use of hardscaping and other low-impact fire-resilient materials;
native habitat restoration and planting throughout the gulch; wildfire
education about human impacts and preparedness; and integrating Figure 1: Conceptual Design Perspective Rendering Looking East
climate change mitigation design,

•	Site Perspective Renderings: EPA delivered four final site perspective renderings and accompanying text for county leaders and
local stakeholders to use in future site decisions,

NEXT STEPS FOR CONSIDERATION	

The project team identified these next steps with Mariposa County:

•	Refine Reuse Plans. Continue work with the Merced River interagency and community-based groups to further refine the plans for
reusing and restoring the Miller Gulch site.

•	Cleanup. Work with EPA Region 9 and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control to address clean up needs at site.

•	Funding. Pursue funding options for the trail.

•	Due Diligence. Seek liability protections before taking ownership or control of the property.

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