SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) San Francisco District announced today several recreational areas at Lake Sonoma will close, or remain closed, due to Continuing Resolution for Fiscal Year 2014 constraints and the district’s ongoing efforts to allocate Operations and Maintenance funding to sufficiently fund all of its projects and activities.
“In the absence of a final appropriation for FY 14, we must choose to fund our endangered species fish hatchery and ecosystem restoration over recreation,” said USACE San Francisco District Commander Lt. Col. John K. Baker. “Our number one priority remains the safety and security of our visitors, stakeholders, partners and friends. When funding shortfalls negatively impact life, health and safety issues at the park, we must keep those areas closed.”
More than 200 campsites and five group day-use sites will remain closed until sufficient funding is allocated.
Areas that will remain closed to the public include the Milt Brandt Visitor Center, Don Clausen Fish Hatchery, Overlook and Skaggs Springs Vista parking lots and trailheads.
Camping areas closed include Quicksilver, Island View, Black Mountain, Buck Pasture, Old Sawmill, Liberty Glen, Madrone Point, Lone Pine, Bummer Peak, Broken Bridge, Falcon’s Crest, Homestead, Loggers, Rustler, Skunk Creek, Thumb and Lower Lone Rock.
Open areas include Warm Springs Recreation area for day use and picnicking, Yorty Creek (with handicap-accessible restrooms and trails), South Lake, Lone Pine and Gray Pine (all suitable for horseback and bicycle trail rides), No Name and Little Flat trails and respective parking areas as well as trails accessible from the public boat ramp parking areas. Visitors may also access trails by parking along country roads.
Visitors are reminded that all open areas are for day use only. Limited services will be available. Visitors must clean up and remove trash prior to leaving their area.
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USACE is the nation’s largest provider of outdoor recreation opportunities with about 370 million visits a year. Lake Sonoma receives more than 500,000 visitors annually.
Established in 1866, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District employs approximately 250 people, who are responsible for 40,000 square miles extending 600 miles from the Oregon border to San Luis Obispo County. The district’s programs and projects support approximately 1,000 permanent, higher-wage jobs that contribute to more than $100 million to the regional economy.
The district helps build the nation’s long-term economic strength in an environmentally-sustainable way through water-supply management and flood-damage reduction, shore and coastal protection, ecosystems restoration, and wildlife protection. The district works in partnership with local, state and federal agencies.