|
Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005
Olympic National Park invites interested members of the public to review and provide input on an environmental assessment regarding a proposal to rehabilitate the Boulder Creek trail and former automobile campground. The environmental assessment (EA) is available online and evaluates four alternatives to restore a 2.2-mile section of the old Boulder Creek Road to a trail by removing asphalt, improving stream crossings, and restoring and rehabilitating the Boulder Creek campground. The Boulder Creek Road was built in the early 1900s and provided vehicle access to the former Olympic Hot Springs Resort and automobile campground. The road was closed to vehicle traffic and converted to trail use in 1982 because of slope failure and serious erosion. Since then, the Boulder Creek trail has remained a popular hiking route, both for visitors to the Olympic Hot Springs area and for more extensive wilderness hikes. The old road has deteriorated considerably, however. Several culverts have been washed out or plugged with debris and sections of asphalt have been washed away. The park is considering several alternatives to enhance the safety and use of the trail and campground. Objectives for this proposal include: restoring the trail to a safe, unpaved multi-use foot and stock trail; rehabilitating the Boulder Creek campground, protecting cultural resources at the campground, providing drainage and sediment control along the trail to protect waterways and aquatic resources; enhancing the parking area and providing a turnaround for stock use; and providing safe stream crossings for pedestrians and stock users. “We invite anyone interested in this project to review and comment on the environmental assessment,” said Olympic National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin. Comments should be submitted on-line by visiting the project home page at the National Park Service’s Planning Environment and Public Comment website. Comments may also be sent to the following address, to be received no later than January 6, 2010.
Commenters should be aware that their entire comment – including personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While commenters can ask that their personal identifying information be withheld from public review, the NPS cannot guarantee that this will be possible. For more information about this project, people may call the park at 360-565-3004. |
Last updated: February 28, 2015