End Fire Danger – Close Blankenship Bridge Gravel Bar to Camping
30 Comments
J
Jon Winkeller
5 years ago
I support designating the gravel bar for day use only. With its surging popularity as a camp site, the Flathead National Forest must act to protect the Wild and Scenic River from pollution and fire risk. “It’s appalling, no doubt about it."
https://flatheadbeacon.com/2020/08/04/blankenship-bridge-camping-usage-triples-amid-pandemic/
J
Joseph Kingan
5 years ago
This area is along side of a Protected Water Way and is in a designated flood plane.
Many of the Campers historically do not respect the area and leave garbage and human waste.
Fireworks are set off which is against NFS rules. Fireworks and camp fires could set off a major wild fire given no fire rings or regulations.
Given the flood concerns and environmental risks we oppose the continued use of the area.
L
Lorren Beck
5 years ago
I would like to see it made into a U.S. Fee area for all to use in a safe manner. This would allow for a closer monitoring from the Forest Service.
C
Constance Nelson Lane
5 years ago
This has been building in #s over the years. It is now on the Internet as a free RV place. Because so many people are living there with no facilities, the problem must be dealt with NOW.
D
David A Cameron
5 years ago
Glad to support this important initiative. I hope it does some good.
J
Janet A Bali
5 years ago
Featured
It is terrifying to drive by here and witness the fires that are going all night long and at times quite large.
S
Stephen Willis
5 years ago
Featured
Thanks for initiating a forum for concerned citizens and property owners to find a way to manage use of the Blankenship Bridge area for multiple uses. The last few summers far too many people have been camping at Blankenship jeopardizing the Wild and Scenic designation with litter, human waste and fires which could threaten human lives and property. This should be designated no over use or developed and managed to accommodate over night use properly.
S
Stephen Willis
5 years ago
I own 23 acres and a home on Teakettle Rd. I have owned this property since 1996. Since that time area around Blankenship bridge has been river recreation use. In the past few years the number of people camping in the area has exploded. This increase in the number of campers leads to excessive human waste, many fires during high fire season and deters from the Wild and Scenic nature of this area. If camping is allow it should be limited to a certain number of people and have toilets with easy access. People are not crossing the road to the vault toilet. This should be a day use only area. The website Free Camping.org should remove Blankenship bridge from it’s site. I worked for the National Park Service for 17 yrs and would be happy as a citizen to help develop a long term use plan for Blankenship taking all user groups into consideration.
E
Ed Smith
5 years ago
14 Linderhof drive. Thanks for organizing this effort. Last summer was a fiasco and a threat to our beloved neighborhood. I sure hope we can do something about it.
K
Kurt Hertrich
5 years ago
When people camp overnight there is little control, if any. An unsupervised site like this can be a burden to people living close by.
I support designating the gravel bar for day use only. With its surging popularity as a camp site, the Flathead National Forest must act to protect the Wild and Scenic River from pollution and fire risk. “It’s appalling, no doubt about it." https://flatheadbeacon.com/2020/08/04/blankenship-bridge-camping-usage-triples-amid-pandemic/
This area is along side of a Protected Water Way and is in a designated flood plane. Many of the Campers historically do not respect the area and leave garbage and human waste. Fireworks are set off which is against NFS rules. Fireworks and camp fires could set off a major wild fire given no fire rings or regulations. Given the flood concerns and environmental risks we oppose the continued use of the area.
I would like to see it made into a U.S. Fee area for all to use in a safe manner. This would allow for a closer monitoring from the Forest Service.
This has been building in #s over the years. It is now on the Internet as a free RV place. Because so many people are living there with no facilities, the problem must be dealt with NOW.
Glad to support this important initiative. I hope it does some good.
It is terrifying to drive by here and witness the fires that are going all night long and at times quite large.
Thanks for initiating a forum for concerned citizens and property owners to find a way to manage use of the Blankenship Bridge area for multiple uses. The last few summers far too many people have been camping at Blankenship jeopardizing the Wild and Scenic designation with litter, human waste and fires which could threaten human lives and property. This should be designated no over use or developed and managed to accommodate over night use properly.
I own 23 acres and a home on Teakettle Rd. I have owned this property since 1996. Since that time area around Blankenship bridge has been river recreation use. In the past few years the number of people camping in the area has exploded. This increase in the number of campers leads to excessive human waste, many fires during high fire season and deters from the Wild and Scenic nature of this area. If camping is allow it should be limited to a certain number of people and have toilets with easy access. People are not crossing the road to the vault toilet. This should be a day use only area. The website Free Camping.org should remove Blankenship bridge from it’s site. I worked for the National Park Service for 17 yrs and would be happy as a citizen to help develop a long term use plan for Blankenship taking all user groups into consideration.
14 Linderhof drive. Thanks for organizing this effort. Last summer was a fiasco and a threat to our beloved neighborhood. I sure hope we can do something about it.
When people camp overnight there is little control, if any. An unsupervised site like this can be a burden to people living close by.