Boulder Creek Rehab Project to Begin August 16 at Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park will begin a rehabilitation project at Boulder Creek Trail Aug. 16 in order to improve visitor access and resource protection in the area.
A section of the trail, from the trailhead to the area just below the Boulder Creek campground, will be closed to all public access starting Aug 16. The project is expected to be completed by the end of October 2010.
“We realize this temporary closure may affect our visitors’ travel plans within the park, but ask for your patience and understanding as we work to improve conditions on the trail and at the campground,” said Olympic National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin.
The Boulder Creek project was originally scheduled to take place in 2011, but funds made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) allowed the project timeline to be moved forward by one year.
Key components of the rehabilitation project include: removing asphalt from a 2.2-mile section of the former Boulder Creek Road, reducing trail width to between 24 and 30 inches, installing foot bridges to improve safety at stream crossings, providing drainage and sediment control along the trail to protect waterways and aquatic resources, and improving vehicle access at the Boulder Creek trailhead. The project also will restore stock animal access along the trail and create a turnaround area at the trailhead for vehicles towing stock trailers.
“The Boulder Creek project will bring a range of improvements that will enhance not only safety, but also trail access and the visitor experience in this area of the park,” Gustin said. “Thanks to valuable public input and after considering several alternatives, the park is ready to move forward with this extensive rehabilitation project.”
Boulder Creek Road was built in the early 1900s to provide vehicle access to the former Olympic Hot Springs Resort and automobile campground. Due to slope failure and serious erosion, the road was closed to vehicle traffic and converted to trail use in 1982. Since then, Boulder Creek Trail has remained a popular hiking trail within Olympic National Park for visitors to the Olympic Hot Springs area and for longer wilderness hikes.
The National Park Service reached out for public input and comments during the planning period and considered several alternatives for improving resource protection and visitor access in the area. Olympic National Park released a Boulder Creek Trail and Campground Environmental Assessment (EA) last year, resulting in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in January 2010.
SAYBR Contractors, Inc. of Tacoma, Wash. is the contractor on the approximately $1,037,000 project, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which gave $3 billion to the Department of the Interior. Of that amount, $750 million in funding goes to the National Park Service.
The ARRA funds are part of a stimulus package that is an important component of the President's plan to jumpstart the economy and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so the country can thrive in the 21st century. Under the ARRA, Interior is making an investment in conserving America's timeless treasures – our stunning natural landscapes, our monuments to liberty, the icons of our culture and heritage – while helping American families and their communities prosper again. Interior is also focusing on renewable energy projects, the needs of American Indians, employing youth and promoting community service.
A full listing of National Park Service Recovery Act projects throughout the country, along with progress reports for each project, are available at http://recovery.doi.gov/nps.
The Rehabilitate Boulder Creek Trail and Campground FONSI and EA may be reviewed online by selecting Olympic National Park at the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment website, http://parkplanning.nps.gov/olym. For more information or for a printed copy of the FONSI, interested parties may call the park at 360-565-3004
Olympic National Park News Release
July 8, 2010
For Immediate Release
Barb Maynes
Dave Reynolds 360-565-2985
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Olympic National Park
600 East Park Avenue
Port Angeles, WA 98362
360-565-2985 phone
360-565-3015 fax
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