Scott Swanson
As the official tourism season kicks in following Memorial Day, visitors to Linn County and local residents will find some changes in local camping areas, with more expected in the Green Peter area.
Though chilly weather and a cool economy resulted in fewer campers than normal earlier this spring, county Parks Director Brian Carroll said “the phone has started ringing and we’re starting to see increased reservations.”
“We’re trying to make Linn County a destination,” said Carroll, who has been with the Parks and Recreation Department since 1997. Under his leadership, the county has added eight new campgrounds that it either owns or manages, and made substantial improvements to all of the 28 facilities it controls.
The department this year is largely financially self-sufficient, independent of the county General Fund, and revenues are up, he said.
“I think there’s still more room for growth in our revenues,” he said.
Reservation records from Sunnyside County Park suggest that the vast majority of visitors come from the northwest portion of the state – Eugene to Portland – with others coming from Bend and many from the coast – Newport and Lincoln City.
“We go to the coast to see something different. They come here,” Carroll said.
He said mid-week usage of the campgrounds is on the rise, as well as “shoulder season” camping, during May and September. A lot of that is spur-of-the-moment decisions to go camping.
“One of the advantages of being a local entity is you don’t necessarily have to have reservations early in the year,” Carroll said. “You can just come out when the weather is good and use the facilities.”
Another factor that dictates usage is fishing.
“Use of Waterloo Park, in particular, depends on how good the fish run is,” he said.
Steady growth over the past years has resulted in no-vacancy signs at most parks through much of the summer, including some of the U.S. Forest Service campgrounds along Highway 20 that the county began managing last year.
“We’re starting to pretty much run at capacity everywhere,” he said. “Even during mid-week.”
Carroll said plans to develop new camping facilities in the area of Green Peter Reservoir may help alleviate some of the need for more space.
Changes coming to Green Peter
For the past two years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Linn County Parks have been working cooperatively to develop a plan for the future of recreation at Green Peter Reservoir. The purpose of the plan is to improve resource management and public safety and identify opportunities to enhance boating and camping opportunities at the reservoir.
One of the issues addressed by the plan is the “dispersed camping” that occurs on the narrow strip of Corps land between Green Peter Reservoir and Quartzville Road. On summer weekends, the area is packed with RV’s and tent campers, despite the lack of facilities and the close proximity to a busy road. The Corps is concerned about the unsafe conditions and resource damage that is caused by this activity, officials say.
“The Corps needs to make some changes in order to live within our resource constraints and authorities, which do not support dispersed camping,” said Tami Schroeder, Willamette Valley Projects park manager. “By shifting camping activity to designated areas and expanding the county’s role in managing recreation at Green Peter Reservoir, we will be able to work within our budget and improve the quality and safety of recreation in this area.”
This summer, the Corps of Engineers is conducting an environmental assessment for Phase One of the Green Peter Reservoir Recreation Plan, which includes closure of roadside camping areas, expansion of the county-operated Whitcomb Creek Campground, and creation of a designated camping area at Trout Creek, also to be operated by the county.
The environmental assessment will be available for public comment in late July or early August. Implementation of these changes may begin in 2013.
Future projects described in the plan include upgrading the boat access at Billings Park on the south side of the dam and creating designated boat-in campsites with cabins and yurts.
To read the entire Green Peter Reservoir Recreation Plan, go to: http://www.co.linn.or.us/parks/generalinfo/parkplanning.html
“We are very excited about working with Linn County Parks to develop additional recreation opportunities at Green Peter,” Schroeder said. “This area has so much potential, and we are happy to be making some positive changes.”
Other New Park Developments
n Two new cabins have been completed at River Bend County Park and three more are in the works, with construction expected to begin as early as this summer. The cabins are part of the second phase of the park, which will total 83 camping sites in addition to the cabins when completed.
The county has also received a grant to install more restrooms and showers at River Bend.
“That should help complete the infrastructure of that park,” Carroll said. “We’d still like to put in more playgrounds and improve river access, but those will come with time.”
n Sunnyside has a new park ranger, Ken Connor.
n Clear Lake Resort has a new dock system this summer and cabin renovations have continued, with interior painting and new heaters installed in all of the cabins. The new gas stoves, which replace propane units, look like wood stoves and are much more efficient, Carroll said.