Sunday, May 23, 2010

“State parks may look rough around edges”

“State parks may look rough around edges”

State parks may look rough around edges

Posted: 23 May 2010 02:18 AM PDT

Memorial Day weekend state-park visitors will find a mix of new offerings, works in progress and delayed projects.

They also will find scaled-back park crews that will struggle to keep up with mowing, restroom cleaning and trail maintenance. The summer crews will be half the normal size and will work fewer hours. For example, summer crews are budgeted to work 90,000 hours this summer, but put in 140,000 in 2008.

"Things are going to look rough around the edges," said state parks chief Kevin Szcodronski.

The money situation isn't all bad, though. The Iowa Legislature appropriated $5 million from the I-JOBS program for work on cabins, lodges, sewers, entrance signs and other projects. Lawmakers informally have pledged to put up similar cash in each of the next three years.

With some improvements in place and others coming, the state parks have been drawing bigger numbers. Szcodronski suspects that with the economy still struggling to fully shake off the recession, many Iowans will stay closer to home for vacation. State parks typically benefit from that.

The number of camper days rose to 714,592 in 2009, up 5.3 percent from flood-plagued 2008. Last year's attendance was 7.4 percent higher than five years earlier. A camper day means one person staying one night.

Including campground visits and other activities, 56 major state parks drew an estimated 14 million visits last year, up 250,000 from 2008 and the highest total since 2006.

Szcodronski expects a gain of a few percentage points this year. "Our reservation numbers are strong for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July," he said.

The state uses an electronic system for cabin and lodge rentals. Half the campsites can be reserved online; the other half are first-come, first-served. Szcodronski said the old practice of arriving on a Tuesday or Wednesday to reserve a campsite in person has spread to the electronic world. The online system allows reservations three months in advance. Some campers wait until the Wednesday before their camp weekend shows up online, then book Wednesday through Sunday to be sure they don't fall victim to a sellout.

Those who opt for the great outdoors in Iowa will find some restored lakes, some of the best fishing in years, new roads and retooled campgrounds. The choices run from the modern cottages and lodge at Honey Creek Resort State Park near Moravia to a new offering at Springbrook State Park: a four-bedroom house with a walkout basement.

No matter where you go, you'll want to do your part to stop the spread of the ash-tree-killing pests.

State officials recently confirmed Iowa's first infestation of emerald ash borer. Its larvae kill ash trees by eating through their feeding systems.

It is illegal to take any wood out of the infested area, Allamakee County, but the inevitable spread of the borer means campers should be careful statewide. Don't haul wood around from place to place. Buy wood from a local supplier, and burn it before you leave, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources recommends.

Here's a look at specific parks with news:

BIG CREEK: You'll notice toilets are a bit harder to find on the east side of the lake. The sewage system developed major leaks over the winter and had to be shut down. That means the restrooms in that area are closed. So portable toilets have been added around the beach and other high-traffic areas, but not at all shelters. On the west side of the lake, restrooms remain open. They are hooked to a different sewage system. While restroom facilities will be less than ideal, getting a meal or a boat will be easy. The concession remains open.

GREEN VALLEY: The state has overhauled 102 campsites and added a new building to this hideaway near Creston. Of those, 19 have full hookups; the rest have electrical. Green Valley Lake is down 12 feet for restoration work but is accessible to small boats.

HONEY CREEK RESORT: Just when Rathbun Lake had finally dropped to within a couple of feet of normal, rains pushed the lake level up about 8 feet. That once again delayed work on boat ramps and the beach. However, boat ramps are available at nearby Honey Creek State Park, across the lake. And there is enough sand to get the feel of a beach. Work remains on fixing a dock system that didn't pass inspection, but a temporary approach will give visitors access to docks. Crews still have one section of trail to complete, too. On the plus side, all the golf holes are open, and the course has earned good reviews in national golf magazines. "The golf course is in fabulous shape," said Jim Lawson, district parks supervisor.

LAKE DARLING: The lake is still low for dredging and other restoration work.

LAKE OF THREE FIRES: State biologists say it usually takes three years for the fishing to get hot after a lake has been restored. Well, as angler luck would have it, Lake of Three Fires hits the three-year mark this season. "It's at the peak from a fisheries standpoint," Lawson said.

LAKE WAPELLO: After work to improve the lake, water levels are approaching normal.

MAQUOKETA CAVES: The park and campgrounds are open, but the caves are closed to prevent the spread of a disease that is killing bats in the eastern United States.

SPRINGBROOK: The state bought a 10-acre property next to Springbrook State Park near Guthrie Center that includes the four-bedroom Sherburne House, which is now for rent. The place has a walkout basement, a full kitchen, three bathrooms, two large living rooms and sleeps 12. Cost: $200 a night, $1,200 per week, with minimum stays that vary depending on the week.

VIKING LAKE: A recent lake restoration should mean good fishing this year, and great fishing next year, Lawson said.

VOLGA RIVER: A new campground with 34 full-service campsites will open later this summer.

WAUBONSIE: The 2005 addition of the 642-acre former Wa-Shawtee Girl Scout Camp is the site of five new camping cabins, which don't have running water, and three modern cabins.

WALNUT WOODS: A few years ago, the DNR completely reworked the Walnut Woods campground. Just as the grand reopening approached, the flood of 2008 scraped all the gravel from the pads for recreational vehicles. Now, finally, those sites have been repaired. And they should last. The state chose to use concrete this time. "We got tired of chasing that rock around," Lawson said.
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