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[pct-l] PCT damage Nth and Sth



The following are from the PCTA for relay to the PCT-List.  First, from USFS 
on the northern area damage and then following from Pete Fish on Sth 
California;

<<<
    News Release    
Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
21905 64th Ave W
Mountlake Terrace, WA  98043-2278
425-775-9702 or 1-800-627-0062
www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs
For Immediate Release                                       Contact:  Ron 
DeHart, 425-744-3573               
Date:  November 14, 2003                                             Betty 
Blodgett  425-744-3571                                                           
                                                  
______________________________________________________________________________
________
                    
Forest Flood Damage Tops $10 Million, Recreation Areas Cut Off in'04
         Overall damage assessments are expected to exceed $8 million from 
late October

storm damage which flooded roads, bridges, trails and other recreation 
facilities in the 

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.  Additionally, projected restoration 
costs for dozens

of key aquatic and riparian watershed areas, still being tabulated, could 
exceed another

$2 - $3 million, according to senior managers of the 1.7 million-acre 
national forest.

         "The enormity of the damage far exceeds our initial assessments," 
said Rob 

Iwamoto, Acting Forest Supervisor.  Recreation sites that survived previous

100-year flood events were swamped, destroyed or entirely removed from the 
landscape    
  
when as much as 10 inches of rain hit some areas during 24 hour periods over 
the 

October 17 weekend.         

          On the western and southern flanks of Glacier Peak in eastern 
Snohomish County, Forest managers point to the loss of Kennedy Hot Springs, Kennedy 
Cabin and a series of historical cabins in the Monte Cristo area.  All have 
withstood several past floods.

           Additional significant losses  have been found in drainages south 
and west of Mt. Baker and in the upper reaches of the Skagit River system.  
Total tabulations to date list the loss of more than 15 popular trails,  20 
trail bridges, and the breach of more than 30 miles of the Pacific Crest National 
Scenic Trail.  Also damaged and closed are segments of more than 40 roads and 
many bridge and bridge abutments due to washouts or mud and rock slides.

 Flood damage tops $8 million

          The storm's impact, the Forest's largest such event in nearly a 
decade, has delivered a knockout punch to many higher elevation and backcountry 
recreation sites, particularly in Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom Counties.  At 
least 13 of the forest's campgrounds are among the damaged or destroyed.

          "Access to many popular areas is not only restricted now, but will 
almost definitely remain that way until well into 2004 or beyond," said 
Iwamoto.  He said agency managers are researching several funding sources, including 
the Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) program.  The task of 
repairing and restoring could take several years, he said. 

          He advised outdoor recreationists that many flood-impacted areas 
are unsafe for public travel and will remain closed until further notice.  

           A listing of flood damaged areas and facilities can be found on 
the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest web at <A HREF="www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs">www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs</A>.

>>>

And, from Pete Fish;

<<<
CDP&R news release 10/31/03 - Recent So. Calif. fires
This release mentions that  with over 30,000 acres destroyed this is the 
worst wildfire loss in the 139 year history of  CA State Parks.  The most 
seriously hit was Cuyamaca Rancho State Park with 24,614 acres  burned,  followed by 
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park 4,985 acres, and Silverwood Lake SRA 1000 acres.
 Silverwood Lake SRA is of most direct concern to PCT users as the trail runs 
right through it.  PCTA trail crews have camped here numerous times in the 
past 7 years.
" At Silverwood Lake SRA the fire burned through nearly the entire park, more 
than 1000 acres.  A series of seven historic buildings used as park offices 
and storage structures were destroyed.  Two boating campgrounds were destroyed. 
 Several hundred picnic sites were leveled by flames.  In addition, one State 
Park employee home was destroyed and two others were damaged.  Also, hundreds 
of acres of mixed forest that was home to many animal species was destroyed."
You can find the entire release at 
http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/712/files/103103.pdf 
In the Lake Silverwood - Cleghorn Ridge area the PCT is burned from the east 
side of Cedar Springs Dam at Lake Silverwood  (Road 2N33 Map C-13 ) to the 
road and power line crossing near the east edge of C-17.  This is approximately 
13 miles of the trail.  This section is included in the current SBNF closure 
area that extends from near Big Bear Lake to I-15 affecting 51 miles of the PCT.
>>>


Greg