The Forest Service, the Museum and the Library

The November 12, 2015 Island Park City Council meeting produced several interesting bits of information.

Garth Smelser, Forest Supervisor for the Caribou-Targhee National Forest gave a presentation to the City Council regarding the sale of the Forest Service’s Island Park office. The Island Park Historical Society has expressed an interest in obtaining the building to establish a museum. Mr. Smelser advised that he has no authority to authorize a donation of building to the historical society. He did indicate that the building can be purchased pre-auction by an interested governmental agency but that the historical society does not qualify as a pre-auction purchaser. The only way to take advantage of the option would be for the Island Park Historical Society to purchase the building through the City of Island Park. That option should be explored.

I also learned that the Forest Service wants to maintain control of their two wells on the Island Park property, requiring the purchaser to drill a new well. There has been a moratorium on new commercial wells in the caldera since the late 1980's because the water rights are owned by agricultural interests in the Twin Falls region. There is a question of whether a residential well precludes most commercial entities from developing the property. The museum’s water use may make a residential well acceptable.

Also at the meeting was Robin Singleton, a spokesperson for the Fremont County Library Board. She addressed the impending move of the library to Last Chance. Her assurance that local patrons were excited about the move was met with some astonishment since no one knew of it until two months after the deal had been signed.

She also announced that the library is in the process of spending six figures on a bookmobile to service rural areas of Fremont County. It is unfathomable that in an era of eBooks, the library board is not spending the money to create an eLibrary, allowing the patrons to go on line and download whatever reading material they desire. Amazon is now offering Kindle Fires for under $43 each when purchased in groups of six. That seems a lot more cost effective than sending a bookmobile around the rural areas, dodging drifts in the winter and tourists in the summer. This proposal should require a little more thought.

Closure of the Island Park Forest Service Office

The Island Park Office of the US Forest Service will be sold in the spring of 2016. That is the proclamation from Garth Smelser, Forest Supervisor for the Caribou-Targhee National Forest at last week’s town meeting.

Mr. Smelser explained that the Island Park area is the only area under his control that maintains two office locations, Island Park and Ashton. The additional office requires two hundred thousand dollars a year in annual expenses to maintain which the USFS believes could be better utilized for other activities. Members in the audience inquired as to which office is utilized by the public more frequently. Liz Davy responded that the Island Park office is has much more public traffic.

That provoked the next question, “Why not close the Ashton Office?”  Mr. Smelser’s response left me shocked and bewildered when he reported that potential employees would rather not live in the forest. They require more “amenities”! AMAZING.

I have known many forest rangers throughout my life. A forest ranger was a plum job that provided a regular salary to one who dreamed of making their home in the forest. Current candidates for USFS jobs are willing to accept the position if they are allowed to commute to the forest. Apparently the reduction from 4G to 3G cell service is a deal breaker for recent job applicants.

Efforts are being made to convert the Forest Service Office into the caldera museum and house a small USFS office.  Hopefully out of the ashes the decision to close the Island Park location will emerge a new asset for the caldera.

Big Springs Service Project

Branch President Craig Parrish and members of the Pocatello LDS Spanish-speaking Branch stain the decking at the Big Springs Boat Ramp. After a morning of service, they enjoyed a float down the river.

Box Canyon Campground

The Box Canyon Campground is located West of Highway 20, a mile or two South of Pond’s Lodge. It is a small, well maintained campground consisting of 17 available sites nestled in the pines. Box Canyon is reminiscent of camp grounds twenty years ago, before many were covered in paving and concrete.

Each site has a table, a fire ring and a stove stand in great condition. There are four community water faucets that service the campground, toilets and no electricity.  The roads and sites are surfaced in gravel. While the Henry’s Fork is just a short walk to the campground, as the name Box Canyon implies, a short hike down a steep trail is required to access the water. One advantage of the campground’s location is that with no nearby slow-moving water, the number of mosquito encounters should be greatly diminished.

If you are looking for a campground that is a little more rustic, scenic and intimate, try Box Canyon. You won’t be disappointed!

The Big Springs Boat Launch

Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit with Liz Davies of the Forest Service and the subject of the Big Springs boat launch came up. The road that loops past the river has cratered to the point of being almost impassable. The launch is used by Chad Bauer at Mack’s Inn for which he pays a substantial concession fee but three quarters of launch users are private individuals/vacationers. Liz advised during our meeting that funds were not available to fill the holes and grade the road to the ramp.

Last Friday, Liz informed me that the Forest Service in cooperation with Fremont County is applying for a grant to fix the boat launch road. She suggested that if the community can assist in hauling and spreading the road base, the Forest Service may be able to supply the rock and grade the road. I have visited with several individuals who have shown an interest in donating time and equipment to fix this problem.

There are several issues that need to be addressed by the Forest Service as primary landholder in the caldera. Liz Davies’ hope as well as mine is that more of these projects can be addressed as cooperative projects between local residents and the Forest Service.

The Campfire * a visit with Liz Davies of the Forest Service *

Forest Service’s Liz Davy graciously agreed to meet with me monthly to discuss any Forest Service plans for the Island Park Caldera. We held our first “kumbaya” last Friday. These are the bullet points of that conversation:

With the funds generated by the Island Park Chamber’s “Sawtelle Fun Run”, the Forest Service intends to finish the non-motorized community trail that stretches from Harriman Park to Henry’s Lake. Signage will be installed along the trail this summer. Liz wanted to convey her appreciation of the Chamber for their support of this project.

Last summer’s decision to close numerous ATV trails throughout the caldera may not be implemented for five years. Lack of funding will preclude efforts to erect the necessary signage and block existing trails.

The only road grading in the caldera this summer will be on Chick Creek and Green Canyon Road (and those two projects are tentative). Liz recommended that one avoid driving on muddy back roads this spring or accept the deep ruts throughout the year.

A project will be implemented this summer to bear-proof the Forest Service campgrounds. Food safes, lighting and improved garbage cans will be installed. With the increase in the grizzly population, efforts are being made to limit bear visits to the campgrounds.

The Forest Service will be conducting Sustainable Fire Community seminars July 22-25 in Island Park in an effort to help property owners protect the area from catastrophic fires. More info will be available, including locations as the time nears.

There is no money to fill and grade the craters in the access road to the boat launch at Big Springs. There is an effort underway to partner local volunteers and the Forest Service to fix the problem before someone loses a car.

Gettin’ Wood

For me, August is the time to begin gathering firewood for the winter. I made my annual pilgrimage to the Forest Service Office to purchase my permit. Fifty dollars for eight cords of wood is truly a bargain.  Granted, we have to find the wood, cut it up and haul it down to the cabin, but still ….

My next stop was to see Joe at Elk Creek Service to get my chain sharpened (he does great work). Cleaning my saw was next on my list. I took off the cover and brushed out the remnants of last year’s firewood, checked the air filter and emptied the gas tank. After installing my chain, I filled it with gas and oil. It fired right up and I was ready to attack the pines.

I began cutting firewood for my grandfather in 1975 when he built a cabin in Heber, Utah and I have enjoyed harvesting firewood ever since. I suppose it reminds me of the time that I spent with Grandpa. During the summer, Sheri and I did some reconnaissance and found a spot that would yield enough firewood for our needs. Cutting firewood is like elk hunting. You can always find what you want. The question is how far you are willing to carry it out. The distance seems to shorten with each passing year. My current firewood carry limit is fifty feet and only downhill!  We headed up the mountain and the work began.

Chipmunks and squirrels are constantly scampering about, gathering and storing food for the pending winter. The bears are feeding incessantly to increase their body fat before they enter hibernation. The elk, moose, deer and all other inhabitants of the forest are also busy preparing for the snow season. Stockpiling one’s source for winter’s heat allows us to participate in a forest ritual while enjoying the exquisite scenery.

My goal is to get the wood in before bow season begins and I begin chasing elk around the forest. 

Forest Service Proposes Designated ATV Trails

Every year there are reports of serious injuries or deaths at the St. Anthony dunes. The accidents are usually the result of collisions between ATVs and/or motorcycles. Island Park is feeling the pressure of the increase in ATV riders. Cabin owners surrounded by the labyrinth of trails may question if they own property on the edge of the Daytona speedway, not Island Park.

The US Forest Service is in the process of evaluating the trails available to ATVs. The numbers of 4 wheelers and side by sides have exploded, as have the spider’s webs of improvised trails. These trails can damage the environment and facilitate erosion. They can also disrupt wildlife. The disorganized nature of the trails can also make collisions between unsuspecting riders more likely.

The Forest Service proposes to create a connected series of marked trails that will give riders an enjoyable and safe experience. It proposes to limit riders to the designated trails.  Those trails that are not included in the trail system will be made impassable.

I just picked up a copy of the proposal last Friday and it appears that there are a few areas that are more impacted than others.

The entire Eccles area east of Last Chance is subject to change. Many of the spurs and trails are to be removed with the exception of an expansive oval with 3 or 4 entrances.

Buttermilk to Upper Coffeepot will have a few trails constructed and many of the improvised trails taken out.

The area north and south of Mack’s Inn to Big Springs will have organized trails designated and the improvised trails will be removed.

The Forest Service is accepting written comments until approximately July 24^th. 

I would suggest that you visit their web site: www.fs.usda.gov/projects/ctnf/landmanagement/projects and look up “Island Park OHV Trails Project”. The proposal and the maps are available. You can visit the Island Park office of the Forest Service and review the proposal and maps there. The staff is very helpful.

Look up any areas you enjoy, see how this proposal will affect them and submit your input to the Forest Service in writing ASAP.

I am planning to make my own submission to the Forest Service.  I would like to see ATV rules relaxed during hunting seasons for big game retrieval.