9-17-2015 Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Recreation Report page 8 of 26
Editor’s Note: Recreation Reports are printed every other week.
September 17, 2015
A variety of outdoor opportunities occur in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest during September. Not only do the leaves start to change color, but the color of salmon in local rivers is also evident. To celebrate salmon returning to their native spawning grounds in local area rivers and streams, Salmon Festival free family day is on September 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery.
Come enjoy a “Salmon Celebration” and see festival favorites like Reptile Man, Native American dancers, plus, enjoy new activities like the Hawthorne Ridge Prospectors Bluegrass Band, Danzas Multiculturales Dance Troupe, a special historical exhibit that traces the rich history of the Leavenworth Hatchery’s development, and even a unique opportunity to create your own silk screen salmon art with special guest artist Sue King. For more information go to www.salmonfest.org .
Good news for woodcutters. On September 18 the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) in zone 680 will go to level I, which allows woodcutting all day long, and the IFPL in Zones 675, 609W and 609E will go to level II which permits woodcutting from 8 p.m. to 1 p.m. followed by a one-hour fire watch. On Sept. 19, IFPLs in woodcutting zones 678W and 684 will go to level II. Go to www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ifpl for a map of the industrial fire precaution zones.
For folks interested in getting an early look at changing fall colors, Saturday, September 26 would be a good day to do that as that is National Public Lands Day. In honor of National Public Lands Day, no recreation fees will be required at Day Use sites, developed trailheads and destination visitor centers in national forests.
Fees are still required, though, at campgrounds and concessionaire-operated day use sites and other standard amenity fee sites operated by the Forest Service. Contact your local national forest to learn if your destination requires a fee and if that fee is waived. Take advantage of the free fee day to visit national forest trailheads and trails.
A number of hunting seasons occur in September. For your personal safety, wear hunter orange while recreating in the woods during hunting season.
· Early archery general deer seasons opened on Sept. 1
· Black bear hunting season is August 1 to November 15
· Grouse hunting season is September 1 to December 31
· High Buck Hunt is from September 15 to September 25
Many areas of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest have been impacted by wildfires this summer. Fires continue to burn on the Chelan, Entiat, and Methow Valley ranger districts.
Due to many fires burning in or near the national forest, we encourage forest visitors to contact local ranger district offices to obtain the most current information about the location they plan to visit. Area, road and trail closures are in effect in many places so it is best to know where these closures exist before arriving in the national forest.
Fire information is available from a variety of locations in addition to ranger district offices. The Inciweb website offers information about large fires burning throughout the United States. Inciweb contains information about fires 100 acres or larger burning in timber or 300 acres of larger in grass. Go to http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ to search for information about fires burning in Washington State.
Many Incident Management Teams have begun posting information about large wildfires on Facebook, Twitter and blogs.
Fire Information (http://inciweb.nweg.gov/state/49/)Okanogan Complex
Phone: 877-568-0458 or 877-574-5148
Email:
Twitter: #OkanoganComplex
Blog: okanogancomplex.blogspot.com/
Includes: Beaver Lake, Lime Belt/Blue Lake (all burned together) / Wolverine & First Creek Fires
Phone: 509-662-0145
Email:
Twitter: @wolverinefire
Facebook: Wolverine Fire/FirstCreek Fire /Blankenship Fire
Includes: Wolverine, First Creek & Blankenship fires
North Star & Tunk Block Fires
Phone: 509-826-7140
Email:
Twitter: #northstarfire
Facebook: North Star Fire
northstarandtunkblockfires.wordpress.com / Chelan Complex (until 9/19/2015)
Phone: 206-276-9126
Email:
Facebook:
Includes: Reach, Black Canyon, McFarland, Cagle, Antoine Creek fires (all burned together)
For those seeking information about fires burning throughout Washington and Oregon, the Northwest Coordination Center website, http://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/information/fire_info.aspx, offers a variety of products including a large fire map, large fire information summary and more.
Wildfires will continue to occur through the remaining days of late summer and early fall depending upon weather conditions. Forest visitors are asked to comply with campfire bans in place and to not enter areas or use trails or roads that are closed due to wildfires.
For current information please go to any of the sources listed or contact Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest offices during normal business hours.
Portions of the Chelan, Entiat and Wenatchee River Ranger Districts and the Glacier Peak Wilderness are closed due to fire activity from the Wolverine fire. Go to http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/okawen/alerts-notices/?aid=29690 for the current area closure map. An interactive map of all the fires and area and road closures is available on the Okanogan-Wenatchee N.F. website at http://usfs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=bd6c1ad8feb541e7952fc097273f926f .
Starting September 18, campfire restrictions will be reduced on national forest lands in most areas of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
Currently, campfires are allowed in congressionally designated wilderness areas in the forest. On Friday, campfires will also be allowed in metal or cement fire rings in most developed campgrounds that are open to public use on all Okanogan-Wenatchee N.F. ranger districts except for the Naches Ranger District. The reduction in campfire restrictions is due to recent weather changes and cooler nighttime temperatures.
Campfires will also be allowed in most summer home sites and other areas under special use permits.
Conditions remain dry in lower elevation areas of the Naches Ranger District. Campfire restrictions in these areas will be reassessed as weather conditions change.
OFFICE ADDRESSES and PHONE NUMBERS:
Chelan Ranger District, 428 W. Woodin Ave., Chelan, WA 98816; 509-682-4900; hours M-F 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m., closed for lunch 11:30 to 12:30
Cle Elum Ranger District, 803 W. 2nd Street, Cle Elum, WA 98922; 509-852-1100; hours M-F 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed for lunch 12:30 to 1:15 p.m.
Entiat Ranger District, physical address 2108 Entiat Way, (P.O. Box 476), Entiat, WA 98822; 509-784-4700; hours M-F 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Methow Valley Ranger District, 24 West Chewuch Road, Winthrop, WA 98862; 509-996-4000; hours M-F 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Naches Ranger District, 10237 Hwy. 12, Naches, WA 98937; 509-653-1401; hours 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; closed for lunch noon to 12:30 p.m.
Okanogan Valley Office, 1240 South Second Ave., Okanogan, WA 98840; 509-826-3275; hours M- F 7:30-4 p.m.; closed for lunch 11 a.m. to noon
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Headquarters office, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA 98801; 509-664-9200; hours M-F 7:45-4:30
Tonasket Ranger District, 1 W. Winesap, Tonasket, WA 98855; 509-486-2186; hours M-F 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; closed for lunch 12:30 to 1 p.m.
Wenatchee River Ranger District, 600 Sherbourne, Leavenworth, WA 98826; 509-548-2550; hours M-F 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
CAMPFIRE RESTRICTIONS MODIFIED:
NEW: Campfires are currently allowed in designated wilderness areas and starting on Sept. 18 will also be allowed in metal or cement fire rings in designated campgrounds and summer home sites under special use permit. Campfires are not allowed in campgrounds on the Naches Ranger District. In areas where campfires remain prohibited, only liquid pressurized gas devices are allowed.
INDUSTRIAL FIRE PRECAUTION LEVELS (IFPLs) CHANGE:
· The IFPL is now Level I for zone 680
· The IFPL is now Level II for zones 675, 609E and 609W
· The IFPL for zones 678W and 684 in the Methow Valley and Tonasket Ranger Districts will be lowered to level II on Sept. 19
· For current IFPL information call 1-800-527-3305 or go online to https://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/ifpl/IFPL.aspx .
Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Indian Affairs all use the same four-level industrial regulation system. This system, which helps prevent wildfires by regulating work in the woods, is known as the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) system.
Industrial Fire Precaution Levels and what they mean:
- Level I: Fire equipment and one-hour fire watch service is required. Carry the equipment listed on the woodcutting permit.
- Level II: Partial Hootowl – limits certain activities, such as woodcutting, to between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. Hoot Owl is a historic term used to notify woodcutters of elevated fire danger and to only cut in the morning hours when Hoot Owls could be heard. This has developed into the modern policy of no chainsaws running in the woods after 1 p.m.
- Level III: Partial Shutdown – prohibits some activities altogether, such as woodcutting, and limits other activities between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m.
HAZARDS FOUND IN WILDFIRE AREAS:
Following are a variety of hazards to watch out for when traveling through areas burned in wildfires.
· Snags are not only obviously dead trees, but can also be blackened killed trees or green trees burned through at the bottom.
· Snags can fall at any time. Besides the potential for striking people or property, they can block trails or roads, including your exit even though travel was unimpeded when you entered the area.
· Snags can make travel difficult if a lot of trees have fallen across the landscape.
· Stump holes and root channels can still be burning and often are hidden from sight until stepped upon.
· Steep slopes and loss of vegetation may cause rolling rocks and debris flows off hillsides at any time but the likelihood increases with rain and freeze-thaw events.
· Loss of vegetation increases the potential for erosion to occur with any rain event. Water runoff may cause flooding that impacts or clogs road culverts and storm drains; sediment may move downstream affecting lands a long distance from the burned areas.
· Even with minor precipitation, road culverts can become plugged with material and cause debris flows.
· Recently opened areas may still have areas with smoke and fire. Fire can smolder below ground in root channels and stump holes and pop up above ground as these sources of organic matter reach the surface. If smoke is discovered, report a fire to 911.
Some things to do to be prepared:
· Don’t loiter in the burned areas, travel quickly through burned areas to reach your favorite recreation sites outside of the burns
· Carrying a saw or axe with you is a good idea when traveling on forest roads
· Stay current on weather forecasts and avoid areas that have been severely burned
· Do not try to cross an active mud or debris flow
· Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return home
For more information, please call the local national forest office or go to the forest web site at www.fs.usda.gov/okawen .
SPECIAL FOREST PRODUCTS:
Permits are required for gathering forest products including firewood, mushrooms, transplants, rocks and minerals, posts and poles, floral cuttings, pine cones, and boughs. Please contact Forest Service district offices for specific information. There is a minimum charge of $20 per permit. Free use permits are available for small quantities of certain items for personal use. Special forest products permits for personal use firewood, personal use river rock and commercial use beargrass are available from the Cle Elum Ranger Station.
INTERAGENCY PASS PROGRAM (America the Beautiful National Parks & Federal Recreation Lands Pass):
This pass combines the benefits of existing recreation passes from five federal agencies into one comprehensive Interagency Pass called “America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.”
· The pass covers recreation opportunities on public lands managed by National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Forest Service.
· The pass applies to those locations that currently have entrance or standard amenity fees.
· The annual pass sells for $80, the lifetime senior pass is $10, and the lifetime access pass and the volunteer passes are free.
· Passes are valid for one full year from the month of purchase.
· Passes provide entrance or access to the pass holder and accompanying passengers in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle at federally operated recreation sites across the country.
· Passes cover the pass holder and three (3) accompanying adults age 16 and older at sites where per person entrance fees are charged. No entry fee for children 15 and under.
· Passes are NON-REFUNDABLE, NON-TRANSFERABLE, and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen.
· This program replaces the Golden Eagle, Golden Age, and the Golden Access Passports as well as the National Parks Pass. Existing passes will remain valid until expired, lost or stolen.
· These passes can be used in lieu of the Northwest Forest Pass.
RECREATION PASS PURCHASE INFORMATION:
A $5 day use fee is required at many trailheads and day use sites across the national forest. The Northwest Forest Day Pass, Northwest Forest Annual Pass, and America the Beautiful Interagency Annual Pass are honored at all Forest Service-operated recreation sites where a day use fee is required. For a complete list of recreation sites where a day use fee is required, please visit http://go.usa.gov/2YXA or call your local ranger station.
Passes are available at all ranger district offices and the forest headquarters office in Wenatchee. The cost is $30 for an annual pass and $5 for a day use pass. For information about the Northwest Forest Pass call 1-800-270-7504 or to order it online go to www.naturenw.org .
· Wenatchee area: Northwest Forest passes are available at Arlberg Sports Inc., Hooked on Toys, Bi-Mart, and Big 5.
· Chelan area: Passes are available at the Chelan Ranger District office.
· Entiat area: Passes are available at Cooper’s General Store in the Entiat Valley and at the Entiat Ranger District office.
· Lake Wenatchee area: Passes are available at Midway Village Grocery, Parkside Grocery and Plain Hardware.