>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Campers and hikers who frequent the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest will see some improvements taking place at a few of its recreation sites this summer.

Local officials recently learned the forest would receive $469,550 in Recreation Site Improvement Funds. The money will be spent improving campgrounds, picnic areas and trailheads. Most planned improvements will mean upgraded toilet facilities or better access to sites for folks in wheelchairs.

Forest Recreation Planner Dan Ermovick said these priority projects were identified during the forest’s 2007 Recreation Facility Analysis.

Ermovick said the forest was somewhat limited in the projects for which they could apply for this particular funding. Criteria included current or previous fee sites and the ability to use partners.

“We also had to identify which projects could be accomplished in 2008 and those which met health and safety needs, which includes accessibility issues,” Ermovick said.

In all, there are 20 projects on the list. Although most of those will take place in Baker County at the Anthony Lakes and Fish Lake recreation sites, there are two sites — one each — in Union and Wallowa counties that will see upgrades and improvements.

At the Moss Springs Campground above Cove, three campsites will be made more easily accessible by a “retrofit” of table pads, tent pads and social areas.

Ermovick defined retrofit as to “go back and fix” things.

“Well, basically what that means is that these sites are going to be upgraded to improve access for people in wheelchairs,” he said.

For example, fire rings will be lifted up to a more manageable height, and the picnic table overhangs will be deeper to accommodate a wheelchair underneath them. The access to get to the campsites at these three sites will also be improved.

“Overall, it means people will be able to get out of a vehicle and wheel right onto these sites. So it’s going to mean a lot of backhoe and fill work,” Ermovick said.

In Wallowa County, the Turkey Flat Forest Camp in Lostine Canyon will be upgraded with an accessible toilet facility. The old toilet and pump vault will be disposed of and replaced with an accessible building. A new accessible ramp or pathway will also be constructed.

The funding comes from the 2004 Recreation Enhancement Act, which expanded the 1996 Recreation Fee Demonstration program. The act gave federal agencies a long-term, multi-agency recreation fee program, and created the authority which allowed the transfer of a portion of Land and Water Conservation Fund receipts — $93 million — into the REA fund.