Fall Means Maintenance And Repair Work In The National Forest

Warm Springs, VA – End of the summer means maintenance and repair time on the national forest.

From District Ranger Patrick Sheridan, this is the monthly report from the James River and Warm Springs Ranger Districts.

Labor Day marks a slow down in camping operations for the summer season. At Lake Moomaw, Campground 3, Sugar Ridge Campground, and the swimming beach closed for the season on September 7. Campgrounds 1, 2, and McClintic Point will remain open into the fall. Morris Hill Campground at Lake Moomaw also closed for the season on September 7.

The Beards Mountain Bridge, also known as the Walton Tract Bridge, is closed while repairs are being made to the decking and rails. Tri County Construction was the winning bidder. Funding for this project is available from The Recovery Act.

The Recovery Act is also providing funding for road repair work on National Forest roads in Alleghany County. Culvert replacement and new arches are being installed. The following roads are closed to the public until repair work is completed: White Oak, reopens September 20. The Tri County road reopens October 9th and the Dolly Anne Road reopens October first.

Firewood is available to the public in the Childrens Forest area at Potts Mountain in Alleghany County from August 30 until September 19. The Forest Service recently cut down trees to create open, grassland habitat for many wildlife species. People with a valid firewood permit can gather the down trees.

No standing trees, dead or alive, may be cut. Permits are available, from the James River District office in Covington between 8:00am and 4:30pm weekdays. Permits cost $20 for approximately six cords of wood. Additional public firewood gathering areas will soon be announced in both Alleghany and Bath counties.

Currently, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fish have open hunting seasons for goose, squirrel, and coyote. Bear chase season is also open but closes on September 25.