A new San Juan National Forest recreation site analysis proposes some closures and improvements for the Dolores Ranger District.
The Forest Service is looking for operators at the Aspen Guard Station and Glade Guard Station. The cabins are closed, and an artist-in-residence program was discontinued because of its high maintenance needs.
“We’re looking for partners and concessionaire to roll it into a camping rental program,” said Dolores district ranger Derek Padilla. “The cabins were built in the 1930s and need to be brought up to modern codes.”
The restroom at Sage Hen at McPhee Reservoir is likely to be demolished unless local partners are willing to help maintain the facility, which has been the target of frequent vandalism. Also, the toilet at the West Fork trailhead may be removed. The bathrooms at Bear Creek and Gold Run trailheads will remain but are proposed for less frequent servicing.
Dolores County is advocating for a toilet at the Navajo Lake trailhead because of heavy recreation there.
Ferris Campground, on the Lower Dolores River, is proposed for closure, but won’t be demolished. Dolores County is working with the Forest Service to find a way to keep it open through volunteer efforts.
At the West Fork campground, the plan is to replace 12 tables and fire rings. Loops at the House Creek campground would be closed unless occupancy rates increase.
Other ranger districts anticipate changes as well:
The Lower Hermosa Trailhead is proposed to go from dispersed camping to a fee area with a campground host.
Bathrooms at Little Molas camping area, Middle Fork Trailhead, Coal Bank Pass, Old Lime Creek Road and the upper Hermosa Trailhead are targeted for removal.
Chimney Rock National Monument is the bright spot. The Forest Service reports it may receive $2.1 million from the Washington office in 2016 for a capital improvements.
The San Juan National Forest, with 1.8 million acres covering 10 Colorado counties, maintains 129 recreational sites, including trailheads, restrooms and interpretative signs.
But over the years, Congress, attempting to trim the federal budget, has allocated less money to the U.S. Forest Service, which means local agencies must look for ways to cut operational costs. The rising cost of fighting wildfires also is a major drain on the Forest Service’s budget, thereby limiting local resources.
Recently, the San Juan National Forest reduced its full-time workforce from 18 to 11 employees and cut the visitor information program by 30 percent. For the past two years, the Forest Service has considered new fees, campsite closures and the decommissioning of restrooms.
The proposed changes will save the Forest Service 30 percent in operational costs (cleaning, salaries), 17 percent in maintenance costs (backlog of work projects) and 4 percent in annual maintenance costs (painting, repairs). For example, the Forest Service had accumulated an estimated $3.9 million in deferred maintenance costs – repairs it couldn’t afford to make. But by closing some facilities in need of repair, the deferred maintenance costs are reduced to about $3.2 million.
The last round of public comment ends March 21. Afterward, Forest Service officials will tweak the plan as needed and complete it this spring.
Public comment can be mailed to Brian White at 15 Burnett Court, Durango, CO 81301, or sent by email to brianwhite@fs.fed.us.
Durango Herald staff writer Jonathan Romeo contributed to this report.
