Changes proposed by the Forest Service for the Green Mountain Reservoir

The summer of 2005 the forest service produced a brochure with New Rules Proposed for Green Mountain Reservoir in 2006. There are some major changes you should know about. I have retyped part of the brochure below. You can pick up a copy of the brochure produced by the forest service at the Dillon Ranger District office of the White River National Forest or at businesses in Heeney. (Bold type is my addition)

"Fees: Standard fee of $10.00 per vehicle which is good for 5 days. Camping will be an additional $5.00 per vehicle per day. Basically, it will cost a family with one vehicle $20.00 to camp for a weekend. Day use will require the standard fee only.
Fees provide: Toilet cleaning and pumping, Garbage service,Litter pick up, Picnic table cleaning, Drinking water (Prairie Point), Campfire ash removal, Law enforcement, County Sheriff patrols, Vandalism repairs, Signing, Tree planting & Information panels.

Firepans and Portable Toilets: Campers occupying sites that are more than 500 feet (one tenth of a mile) from a Forest Service provided toilet will be required to have a portable toilet with them. These can be purchased at camping supply stores. Human waste can be deposited in the toilets (but not bags or containers). To protect the health of visitors, it will not be permissible to urinate or defecate on the ground in the Green Mountain Reservoir area.
Campfires will only be permitted in Forest Service provided metal firepits or in firepans brought by campers. A firepan is a metal container with sides at least 3 inches high. They can be purchased at camping supply stores for about $100. If you camp at a site where there is no metal firepit, you cannot have a campfire unless you have a firepan. Fires will not be permitted in rock fires rings.

McDonald Flats and Prairie Point: All 13 campsites at McDonald Flats Campground have picnic tables and metal firepits. Prairie Point Campground will be closed to camping; however, it will be open in the Fall for vehicle parking during Kokanee snagging season. A 5-day Standard Fee Pass will be required to park.

Willows: The existing toilets will be removed and there will be no toilets at this campground. Campers will be required to have a portable toilet and a firepan. Camping will be prohibited on the north side of the cove at the Willows Campground.

Elliot Creek: There is one toilet in this campground. Campfires will be allowed in Forest Service provided metal firepits only. Campers in the east end (beyond the open parking lot area) of the campground will be required to have a portable toilet.

Cow Creek North: In the roaded area, camping will be permitted only in sites marked with a unit number marker. These sites have a metal firepit. Camping will be permitted anywhere in the beach area (below the high water line and the row of trees and willows).

Cow Creek South: In the roaded area, camping will be permitted only in sites marked with a unit number marker. These sites will have a metal firepit. The beach area (below the high water line and the row of trees and willows) will be accessed by vehicle only where identified by a Beach Access sign. Camping will be permitted anywhere in the beach area. Rock Barriers will be placed to keep vehicles on roads and spurs. They will protect the vegetation and help designate campsites. Please do not drive vehicles around or move rock barriers. Campers in this area will be required to have their own firepan and toilet.

OHVs (Motorcycles and ATVs): OHVs will only be used for the following: To enter and exit campgrounds - To go to the restroom - To transport garbage to the dumpster - They will not be used for riding around the campground (especially by children). This regulation is provide for a safe and peaceful camping experience for all. Exception: OHVs will be allowed in the area between Willows and Cow Creek North Campgrounds. Access will only be from the Willows side. Camping will be prohibited in this area.

Comments: Please review this brochure and give your comments on these proposed rules and information. Contact the Dillon Ranger District at 970-468-5400 or email: comments-rocky-mountain-white-river-dillon@fs.fed.us A draft Green Mountain Reservoir Recreation Management Plan will be completed and available for review soon."

I've typed the above from the brochure. I believe the above email address is correct, there was a question about the address? Some other addresses Heeney residences have tried are: jrothe@fs.fed.us White River Ranger office, rdoak@fs.fed.us Rich Doak at the White River Ranger office, Rick Cables rcables@fs.fed.us and Ken Waugh kwaugh@fs.fed.us in the Dillon office.

If you use the Green Mountain Reservoir let them know your thoughts. There will be a meeting in Heeney at the Firehouse and Community Center on Saturday September 10th 2005 at 7 PM.

This page was prepared by Keats Ann Scott, Colorado Dreams Broker 800-571-1091