2008 Woodie Awards
Lake locals upset by camp proposal
Marcinda Coil
Issue date: 4/11/07 Section: News
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Lake Isabella locals oppose a proposed plan to decommission campgrounds within the Sequoia National Forest.
"2,485.That is how many people who are very concerned about what's going to happen to the campgrounds," said Colleen Brun, a registered nurse at the local hospital in Mt. Mesa.
"If we went to all these campgrounds when they're full, we'd get thousands, literally thousands, more signatures in a couple of weeks," said Richard Brun, one of the organizers of the petition against the plan.
According to the recreation site facility master plan, 52 campground sites are being considered for conversion to concentrated use areas and partial decommissioning. Water, tables, grills, showers and flush toilets will be removed from these campgrounds.
Although the plan states that most people may not care for the missing items because they may have motorhomes, trailers, etc. to offer the amenities that are missing from the campground, Colleen disagrees.
"I don't think that's true at all," responded Colleen. "I think that they should think about the people that don't have motorhomes."
54 sites will remain as developed sites, while other developed sites will be decommissioned.
Among those being considered are the Main Dam, Auxiliary Dam, Miracle Hot Springs, Boulder Gulch, French Gulch, Hungry Gulch, Kissack Cove, Pioneer Point, upper and lower Richbar, and Camp 9.
"A lot of these are very popular sites," said Colleen.
"There's a tremendous need for them as witnessed by the fact that they're full every weekend, a lot of weekdays, too, in the summer," stated Richard.
Campgrounds were evaluated based on five criteria, according to the plan: "Whether or not giant sequoias exist," "water exist," "setting is popular," "offers opportunities for overnight use," and "viewing scenery is a reason people visit the setting."
If this plan was to be implemented, it would be a one-time cost of $2,775,177. "It is a first step to a planning process," said Porterville forest service representative Mary Cole. "Nothing is actually going to take place anywhere in the near future."
"2,485.That is how many people who are very concerned about what's going to happen to the campgrounds," said Colleen Brun, a registered nurse at the local hospital in Mt. Mesa.
"If we went to all these campgrounds when they're full, we'd get thousands, literally thousands, more signatures in a couple of weeks," said Richard Brun, one of the organizers of the petition against the plan.
According to the recreation site facility master plan, 52 campground sites are being considered for conversion to concentrated use areas and partial decommissioning. Water, tables, grills, showers and flush toilets will be removed from these campgrounds.
Although the plan states that most people may not care for the missing items because they may have motorhomes, trailers, etc. to offer the amenities that are missing from the campground, Colleen disagrees.
"I don't think that's true at all," responded Colleen. "I think that they should think about the people that don't have motorhomes."
54 sites will remain as developed sites, while other developed sites will be decommissioned.
Among those being considered are the Main Dam, Auxiliary Dam, Miracle Hot Springs, Boulder Gulch, French Gulch, Hungry Gulch, Kissack Cove, Pioneer Point, upper and lower Richbar, and Camp 9.
"A lot of these are very popular sites," said Colleen.
"There's a tremendous need for them as witnessed by the fact that they're full every weekend, a lot of weekdays, too, in the summer," stated Richard.
Campgrounds were evaluated based on five criteria, according to the plan: "Whether or not giant sequoias exist," "water exist," "setting is popular," "offers opportunities for overnight use," and "viewing scenery is a reason people visit the setting."
If this plan was to be implemented, it would be a one-time cost of $2,775,177. "It is a first step to a planning process," said Porterville forest service representative Mary Cole. "Nothing is actually going to take place anywhere in the near future."
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