SEELEY LAKE – Several projects continue on the Seeley Lake Ranger District, two of which will impact public access.
Cottonwood Lakes Road/Dunham Creek Update: A segment of Cottonwood Lakes Road National Forest Service Road (NFSR) 477 at mile marker 19 over Dunham Creek will be closed from Sept. 16 – Oct. 12. for a bridge replacement. Cottonwood Lakes Road will be closed to the southeast from the intersection with Dunham Creek Road NFSR 4388 for approximately a quarter of a mile.
Access to Lodgpole Trailhead via Dunham Road NFSR 4388 and Monture Creek and Cabin is still available via Monture Road (County & NFSR 89) north out of Ovando. Access to the Little Shanley, Black Canyon and Shanley drainages can be accessed via Woodworth County Road and Kozy Corner (aka Lower Cottonwood NFSR 9976).
Bridge work cannot begin with live water in Dunham for sediment concerns. Seeley Lake District Ranger Quinn Carver is working closely with the contractor. Depending on whether water continues to flow or it is subsurface will determine how much work will be completed this fall.
If the stream is flowing by the end of September and the contractor has completed all the work he can do outside of the stream, the closure order will be rescinded early and the contractor will return next year to remove the old bridge, finish the stream work and install the new bridge during the fish window.
If the stream flow is still subsurface, then the contractor will continue this year with removing the bridge and installing the new bridge. This work will be closely monitored to make sure that no work is completed in the stream if the stream is flowing.
Big Larch Boat Ramp Temporary Closure Update: Contractors are mobilizing back to the Big Larch Boat Ramp for the final phase of construction which needs to be performed at low water. The Big Larch Boat Ramp will be temporarily closed starting Sept. 9 for up to two weeks, to allow for the concrete to cure. Big Larch Campground and Day Use Area remains open.
Seeley Lake Campground and Boat Launch will remain open until construction at Big Larch is complete to allow access to Seeley Lake for boat users.
For more information or concerns contact the Seeley Lake Ranger District 677-2233.
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