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.
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 www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs.
