Removing hazard trees
|
Downed trees
|
Hazard trees
|
Tree Removal
|
Trees down in campground
|
Campground road closed
|
Trails still open
|
|
Green River Lakes campground still closed
Soggy ground conditions topple trees
by Dawn Ballou
June 20, 2004
Despite entering into our 6th year of a drought over most of the west, soggy ground conditions are causing trees to topple in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. In response to the danger, Bridger-Teton National Forest officials are taking action to remove fallen and hazard trees in developed recreation areas.
Green River Lakes campground was closed for public safety after a wind storm toppled trees over Memorial Day weekend in May. The campground road is gated and locked to prevent people from entering into the area where tree removal activity is currently in progress. Dozens of trees that were killed by beetle activity, standing dead, have been cut down. Hazardous trees have been removed throughout the campground.
The trailhead access, parking area, corrals, and boat launch are all STILL OPEN and many folks are camping in dispersed areas along the Green River Lakes road and making do with the many undeveloped spots available along the way while the campground is being made safe. Tree removal operations are also taking place in the Boulder Lake campground area, however that campground has not been closed.
Green River Lakes campground was closed for public safety the evening of Saturday, May 29th after the agency found approximately ten lodgepole pine trees toppled over. Saturated ground conditions, combined with a high-wind incident, caused several green trees to blow down. Other trees were considered to be hazard trees and are in the process of being removed. Lodgepole pine trees have a shallow root system and many trees in the area have been weakened due to the stress of the drought.
The Forest Service has notified the online reservation system at Reserve America (www.reserveamerica.com) to not issue any reservations for Green River Lakes campground. Refunds were authorized for any previously reserved spaces. Three group sites and several individual sites are in the area that can be reserved.
Over Father's Day weekend, lots of people enjoyed the day hiking, kayaking and fishing at Green River Lakes and along the river. Only the campground road has been closed off. As a side note for RV folks and those with vehicles that don't have the best shocks, the main road is a bit rough going in with some washboards and pot holes, so take it easy going in. Also, ranchers have begun to move cattle back into the mountain grazing allotments, so don't be surprised if you see cattle beyond the forest fence boundary.
Other National Forest campgrounds that appear to be impacted by the current saturated ground conditions that are being checked during the hazardous-tree analysis include Boulder Lake, New Fork Lake, Willow Lake, Whisky Grove, Fremont Lake, Half Moon Lake and Trails End at Elkhart Park. Fremont Lake campground was closed in early May for hazardous tree removal operations and reopened for Memorial Day weekend. Campers may see some tree removal activity at other campgrounds, but there are no other closures that we are aware of at this time. We are unaware of any campground closures or tree removal operations in the Wyoming range on the Big Piney Ranger District. Visitors can stop by the Pinedale Ranger District office in Pinedale, next to Faler's General Store, to get the latest advisories about current conditions.
There are still plenty of places to camp in both developed and undeveloped camping areas for tent campers and RVers throughout the area. If you are interested in conditions at a particular spot, drop us an e-mail and we'll find out the conditions (support@pinedaleonline.com).
The Forest Service is taking every precaution to scope out hazard trees and any other hazardous conditions in developed recreation areas. In other places, campers should pick their camping and tent-pitching location with an eye for all safety considerations in mind. In the wilderness area, minimal management is done for hazard removal, including wildfire management, all of which are considered natural conditions and part of the wilderness experience where visitors are responsible for their own safety.
For the moment, our fire danger is still low and the green sign is up. Campers are still urged to be careful with campfires due to the extended drought and stressed conditions vegetation has been under for the past six years. We'll post condition reports as new information becomes available. The photos on this page were taken Saturday and Sunday showing current conditions at Green River Lakes and the Boulder Lake areas over the June 19-20 weekend.
Photos by Clint Gilchrist
|
