Ashley Forest Seeks Public Input On Plan To Decommission Some Recreation Facilities

Flaming Gorge Reservoir - photo by Dave Webb

Ashley National Forest includes popular recreation areas in the Uinta Mountains and around Flaming Gorge Reservoir, north of Vernal. The Forest is considering a plan that would remove some facilities at some campgrounds and reservoirs. Public meetings have been scheduled to allow members of the public to comment on the plan.

The Forest provided the news release below:

Public Meetings to Discuss Decommissioning Recreation Facilities

The Ashley National Forest is reviewing recreation facilities on the Vernal and Flaming Gorge Ranger Districts for decommissioning under an Environmental Assessment (EA) and is holding public meetings to seek public input into this effort.

With the consistent reduction in budget and personnel to sustain the recreational infrastructure on the Ashley National Forest many facilities now face backlogged maintenance needs leading to a reduction in the Forest’s ability to provide quality recreational facilities for public use.

After an initial assessment the proposed action has identified 12 recreation locations for decommissioning.

Locations identified for decommissioning include the following:

Upper Marsh Creek - Remove the crumbling boat ramp and decommission the site.

Long Park - Remove the crumbling boat ramp and nonfunctioning vault toilet and decommission the site.

Greendale Campground - Remove the furnishings; decommission the water system and individual campsites, but leave the Group Site across HWY 191 open.

Antelope Flat Campground - Remove the furnishings and decommission individual camp sites, but leave the Group sites open along with the REA boat ramp facilities.

Skull Creek Campground - (1) Remove the furnishings and decommission the water system and campground, or (2) Decommission the water system but leave the campground open with reduced fees.

Oaks Park Campground - Remove the vault toilet and furnishings and decommission the site.

Red Canyon Campground - Remove the furnishings and decommission the site.

Sheep Creek Bay Campground - Remove the fence and restroom facilities. Make this a part of the Sheep Creek bay boat ramp parking area.

Red Spring Campground - Remove toilets and furnishings and decommission the campground.

Kaler Hollow - Remove the furnishings and toilet and decommission the site.

Navajo Cliff Picnic Site - Remove the furnishings and toilet and decommission the site.

Lucerne Group Campground - Remove the shelters for safety reasons, remove the bathroom facilities, and decommission the older group campground above Lucerne Marina.

A goal of this process is to identify those recreation structures that are not sustainable and using public comments make a decision that reduces the recreational infrastructure and gain alignment with current and projected budget and personnel levels.

This will enable the Forest to sustain quality recreational infrastructure for public use across the Ashley National Forest.

To discuss this effort the Forest has planned four public meetings to discuss this proposed action.

March 13, 2014 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Daggett County Office Building, Manila, Utah

95 North 1st West

Manila, UT 84046

March 14, 2014 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Duchesne County Building, Duchesne, Utah

734 North Center Street

Duchesne, UT 84021

March 19, 2014 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Uintah Applied Technology Campus, Vernal, Utah

450 N 2000 W

Vernal, UT 84078

March 20, 2014 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Dutch John Community Center, Dutch John, Utah

530 South Blvd.

Dutch John, UT 84023