Lodgepole Campground Water System in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park To Be Rehabilitated Through GAOA Funding

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park

NPS Photo / Pieter Kaufman

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), will rehabilitate sections of the Lodgepole Campground water distribution system to enhance visitor experience and provide reliable water access for firefighting. The Lodgepole area of the park serves 1.6 million visitors each year. It is the base for exploring Giant Forest, the state’s largest sequoia grove. Lodgepole Campground, the largest campground in the park, has 214 sites for tents/RVs/trailers, eight restrooms, and hosts 60,000 annual overnight visits. The Lodgepole Campground water system not only provides water for the campground restrooms, but also the area’s visitor center, food services facility, maintenance facility, nature center, staff housing, and fire flow systems.

Project at a Glance: This $997,300 project will connect the Wolverton and Lodgepole Campground water distribution systems, correct code violations, renovate the storage tank and replace the water treatment facility at Lodgepole Campground. The connection of the two water systems will also improve water delivery for fire protection of public and federal facilities. Road surfaces disrupted throughout the project will be repaved.

What are the Benefits: The Lodgepole Campground hosts over 60,000 annual visitors and connects them to Giant Forest, the state’s largest and unlogged giant sequoia grove. This project not only ensures access to potable water for campers, but also ensures reliable water access for firefighting and prevention. With the increase of wildfires in the area, it’s important that the area is well equipped to protect the park’s sequoias.

Project Details

Anticipated Start Date*: Winter 2022
Anticipated Completion*: Spring 2024
Project Costs*: Approximately $997,300
Visitor impact: There will not be any prolonged closures of the campgorund. 

*These are estimates and subject to change

Project Purpose and Goals

Streamlining access to reliable water creates a safe and enjoyable environment for over 60,000 visitors to recreate and learn about the unique resources in the park. This project will renovate the water system by:

• Replacing existing 4-inch main with new 8-inch potable water main between the Wolverton and the Lodgepole Campground water distribution systems

• Replacing fire hydrants

• Grinding and repave the disturbed service road and housing area parking surface

• Improving potable water source redundancy for the Lodgepole campground

• Rehabilitating the deteriorated road and parking area after the water main is replaced to improve driving safety and snow removal operations

• Correcting $997,300 of deferred maintenance and repairs

Find more information about Rehabilitation of the Lodgepole Campground

Current Status

Award of the construction components associated with LRF is dependent on funding of the parent LIC project (SEKI 172423); target award expected in September 2022.