Treefrog
Smolt
I wrote DNR an email a couple of weeks ago after learning about the possible closure of their Chopaka campground. I received a "general" reply that never used the word Chopaka. I copied the text which I am pasting in this email.
Hello Dan,
Thank you for reaching out about the proposed closure of this campground. I know that this is disappointing news.
The last thing that we, as an agency, want to do, is close recreation sites. The reality is, though, that we have been operating with fewer dollars to staff and maintain recreation sites than ever before and the Legislature just cut $580,000 more from our recreation budget in addition to significant cuts last year.
Unfortunately, this does mean we are being forced to make increasingly difficult decisions. We simply don’t have the staff or resources to maintain all sites and keeping sites open could result in unsafe conditions for visitors and liability for the state. Proactively closing sites or limiting services will allow us to focus our limited bandwidth on a smaller number of sites that can be better taken care of.
The list of potential closures or reduced service was developed with input from each of our six regions. It prioritizes sites that are operationally expensive to manage (meaning drive/travel times for staff are lengthy, requirements for restroom cleaning services and outhouse pumping and other factors). Additionally, sites with limited access, such as those that only have one road in or out of the site, and campgrounds that have locking gates, are included because issues like dumping, vandalism and timber theft can be minimized.
We know this is going to impact users and communities and everyone should be prepared for increasingly difficult conditions.
Regardless of whether a site is closed or not, we are asking the public to recreate responsibly. We cannot staff all sites, and we cannot maintain all sites. We need your help, and the help of all users, to do our collective best to maintain the sites we do have and reduce our overall impact as a community. We are all in this together – we can protect our world class recreation sites if we take care when we are out on the lands.
I appreciate you advocating for the sites that you care about and are special to you; I know our lands and waters are incredibly important to our residents and I know our staff will continue to do their best to maintain and care for these sites as they are able.
Dave
Hello Dan,
Thank you for reaching out about the proposed closure of this campground. I know that this is disappointing news.
The last thing that we, as an agency, want to do, is close recreation sites. The reality is, though, that we have been operating with fewer dollars to staff and maintain recreation sites than ever before and the Legislature just cut $580,000 more from our recreation budget in addition to significant cuts last year.
Unfortunately, this does mean we are being forced to make increasingly difficult decisions. We simply don’t have the staff or resources to maintain all sites and keeping sites open could result in unsafe conditions for visitors and liability for the state. Proactively closing sites or limiting services will allow us to focus our limited bandwidth on a smaller number of sites that can be better taken care of.
The list of potential closures or reduced service was developed with input from each of our six regions. It prioritizes sites that are operationally expensive to manage (meaning drive/travel times for staff are lengthy, requirements for restroom cleaning services and outhouse pumping and other factors). Additionally, sites with limited access, such as those that only have one road in or out of the site, and campgrounds that have locking gates, are included because issues like dumping, vandalism and timber theft can be minimized.
We know this is going to impact users and communities and everyone should be prepared for increasingly difficult conditions.
Regardless of whether a site is closed or not, we are asking the public to recreate responsibly. We cannot staff all sites, and we cannot maintain all sites. We need your help, and the help of all users, to do our collective best to maintain the sites we do have and reduce our overall impact as a community. We are all in this together – we can protect our world class recreation sites if we take care when we are out on the lands.
I appreciate you advocating for the sites that you care about and are special to you; I know our lands and waters are incredibly important to our residents and I know our staff will continue to do their best to maintain and care for these sites as they are able.
Dave
