News Release
| Release Number: | 97-023 |
| Dated: | 2/18/1997 |
| Contact: | Heidi Y. Helwig, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. -- Guests visiting Lost Creek Lake will see some changes when the facilities open for the recreation season in March. Some changes were initiated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Lost Creek Lake staff in response to misuse of the facilities. Other changes, such as trail closures, are weather related.
Concern for public and employee safety prompted members of a June 11, 1996, public meeting in Prospect, Ore., to discuss management of the lake's Catfish Cove Campground. Based on public input at the meeting, the Corps converted the campground to a day-use-only facility. A new day-use policy will be in effect when the area opens for seasonal use on March 17, 1997. Stewart State Park Campground, the primary campground for Lost Creek Lake, will open on March 1, 1997. Four Corners and Fire Glen campgrounds on Lost Creek Lake will continue to serve hikers and boaters only; there is no vehicular access to these parks.
Lost Creek Lake staff also are concerned about the illegal use of the plunge pool below the spillway for swimming and partying, said Ken Olson, project manager of the Rogue River Basin Project. "Even though the Corps has posted signs and erected barricades, some individuals sneak into the area," he said. "A favorite activity seems to be jumping from rock ledges, 10 to 15 feet above the pool." Jumping into the plunge pool is extremely dangerous, especially after the high flows in December 1996 and January 1997, he said.
The force of the rushing water from the high flows washed large boulders from the upper spillway into the plunge pool below, creating submerged obstacles and shallow areas. "To avoid life threatening injuries, we must ask visitors to refrain from using the plunge pool for swimming or diving and to obey all posted restrictions," he said. "In the interest of safety, we will issue warnings or citations to individuals who ignore the posted restrictions."
Heavy rains and record inflows into Lost Creek Lake carried an enormous amount of woody debris into the lake. The woody debris in and around the lake should not be removed, except by Lost Creek Lake campers. Citations will be issued to non-campers for removing firewood from government property, Olson said.
When the lake levels recede, the Corps may begin issuing firewood permits for the general public.
High water also damaged hiking trails around Lost Creek Lake and in McGregor Park, causing the Corps to close portions of the trail which run along the river through the park. The handicap-accessible fishing pier downstream from the visitor center also is closed. Most of the McGregor Park trail system--with the exception of the trail leading to the fishing pier--will be temporarily repaired and opened to visitors by early June.
A major landslide on the lake shore trail between Fire Glen Campground and the Lost Creek Trailhead made a section of the trail impassable. No date for repair of this section of the trail has been set at this time.
The enormous inflow of water into Lost Creek Lake also caused nonrepairable damage to the courtesy float located at the Takelma Boat Launch. For safety reasons, the float has been removed. The Corps intends to replace the float in the future.
The Medco A Fishing Access road will remain closed until all repairs can be completed. Some repairs to the road were made last fall, but heavy rains put most of the maintenance work on hold. As soon as weather permits, the repairs will be made and the entrance gate will be opened.