Moguls Trail Closure

I met with JDSF and Caspar Creek Watershed Study staff yesterday at the Recreational Task Force meeting. Everyone apologized for not letting us know before closing the Moguls Trail. The reason for the closure is to immediately stop use that is contributing to soil washing into streams in the Caspar Watershed Study area. This study monitors water quality before and after timber harvest work. It is important for this study's accuracy to keep erosion not related to harvesting to a minimum. I asked to be given an opportunity to try and reopen the trail by addressing the erosion problems. In my opinion this would be the best long-term solution. Staff was open to this. I will set up a field meeting to look at the problems with staff and ask that the public be invited as well. This will not happen overnight so please respect this closure.


Chris

New Trail Signs

The State Forest has been placing new signs to help trail users find their way. It is good to see some work happening to improve recreation use on the forest! Unfortunately some signs have been torn out and shot up already.
I would like trail names, road numbers, and difficulty rating included at intersections but this is a great start!

Get out and enjoy!
Chris

Trillium Flowers

Trilliums are plentiful this year!
These are some of the first flowers of spring and one of my favorites.
One thing that is really neat about these flowers is that as they age their color changes from pure white to a dark burgundy.
Get out and enjoy the Forest!
Chris

Pygmy Tea

In Pygmy Forest areas high acidity turns water a red color, locals call this Pygmy Tea.
A hard pan keeps rain from soaking into soil and flat land keeps water from running off. This slows plant growth because roots are smothered. Some trees are around 200 years old and only ten or twelve feet tall, thus the name Pygmy Forest.
Exploring the Forest during and after heavy rains can be exciting. Get out and enjoy!

Hare Creek Timber Harvest Plan

This plan is mostly north/west of forest Rd 450, from Rd 510 to west of old slide on Rd 450, and is bordered by private property on the west. This part of Rd 450 is used for recreation as a connector east to west from Simpson Ln to Rd 400 and from north to south from State Hwy 20 to Rd 500. Alternative routs that could be used during logging are east-west on Rd 500 and north-south on County Rd 408 both open to motor traffic. Cyclists use an old road in the plan as a connector trail between Rd 510 and Rd 450 that is to be used, in part, as a haul rd in the plan.

An access road exists from the end of Simpson Ln to Rd 510 through this plan. I have been told this is a private rd and the owner dose not allow recreational access. If an agreement could be made with the property owner this would improve access to the Forest.

In my opinion recreational access will be very similar to what we have now after this timber harvest plan is completed and possibly will improve.

Chris