BLAIRSDEN, CA — This summer visitors to Gold Lake Campground and Gold Lake 4x4 Camp in the Lakes Basin Recreation Area on the Plumas National Forest Beckwourth Ranger District need to be prepared for changes at the popular sites.
After issues last summer and the lack of a campground host, Gold Lake Campground will now be first come, first served. There are still fees at the site and visitors should be prepared to pay fees with cash or check at the campground, following posted directions.
“Without a campground host, there was a lot of conflict and confusion last year with reservations and people finding their site was taken when they arrived,” said Forest Recreation and Lands Program Manager Erika Brenzovich. “We hope to find a solution for next year working with concessionaire Royal Elk Park Management.”
There are more changes for those who want to recreate at one of the 13 campsites available at Gold Lake 4x4 Camp. The remote, primitive campground is located approximately 1.5 miles from Gold Lake Campground along a boulder strewn off-highway vehicle road, or by boat.
The site will now require advance reservations on Recreation.gov. Visitors need to make the reservation at least 3 days before their planned visit.
Reservations are open now and can be made up to 30 days in advance online or by calling 877-444-6777. The reservation phone number is staffed daily 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. PDT. Recreation.gov charges an $8 service charge for online reservations, $9 for phone reservations. Service charges are also applied for cancellations, so visitors are asked to be sure of their plans.
Lakes Basin, including Gold Lake, are still impacted by snow. Recreation staff are monitoring conditions and hope to have an estimated opening date soon.
Visitors are also expected to be responsible for human waste disposal when recreating at this site, bringing and using approved systems. This includes waste kits and Waste Alleviation and Gelling (WAG) bags that contain a drying agent, can be sealed and disposed of in a dumpster or trash at home. These systems can be purchased at a variety outdoor stores and online.
Given heavy use at the site, the traditional disposal method of digging a hole and burying human waste is creating more damage.
“The toilets installed at Gold Lake 4x4 Camp several years ago are not functional and creating resource damage we don’t want, especially near the lake,” Brenzovich said. “We are working with partners on removal of the toilets and a suitable replacement, but the timeline for that is uncertain, so we need the public to come prepared to pack out all of their waste.”
The damage that has occurred over the past few years is resulting in the current changes at the site and, if the public does not comply, the next step is to close it to the public.
“The sanitation situation at the site is becoming a serious public and environmental health concern,” said Beckwourth District Ranger Mike Rahe. “There’s a lot of people that love this campground during the summer, but if we continue to see human waste and damage to the area, I will have no choice but to close the site until the toilet is replaced.”
Recreation staff on the Beckwourth Ranger District will be increasing patrols at Gold Lake 4x4 Camp this summer to ensure compliance with the reservation system and sanitation requirement.
“We know Gold Lake 4x4 Camp has been enjoyed spontaneously by so many over the past several years,” Brenzovich said. “For now, we really need visitors to plan ahead, make a reservation in advance, be prepared and truly leave no trace when they leave the campground.”
For more information on the Plumas National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/plumas or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas.
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