Last year Garry told us SST and all of Loch Ness was going away. That includes upper, inner, and babby nessie. Palmetto cable probably too since that just connects to Inner LN. Basically they are fixing the flow in all those lakes that loch ness goes around and routing the trails away from land west of the creek which includes scrub jay habitat (which as apollomike said wasn't supposed to be disturbed) and the Stallion Hammock for environmental sensitivity.
They are also doing something to connect the lake that Spider Berm goes around to the one south of it, but I don't know if that will affect the new Spider Berm trail on the south side of the lake or not. Last year we were told Spider Berm is fine, but that may have changed.
Garry or anybody else more informed please correct me if I am wrong.
I am all for the changes as it is better for the environment and keeps us in balance with the natural wildlife and the land management without taking out too much good trail. If they took away Ridgeline, I would be out there picketing, lol. I will miss the old Loch Ness original trail as I loved that little stretch as the first warmup on my loop and it is one of the first "real" mtb trails I remember riding when i was younger, but things change, life goes on. Overall, they have been very good working with many different interests involved, and I feel they recognize that a major part of having these preserves is for the benefit of people like us that like to get out and enjoy nature in a healthy and beneficial manner. Balm will still be a great place to get out in nature and ride. . . . just a little bit different.