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STRAWBERRY POINT - A two mile section of road in Backbone State Park will be closed until the end of July to repair washout damage and remove downed trees caused by heavy rains and storms over the past few weeks. The park road is closed from the CCC museum spur near the west gate on through the park.
The Six Pine Campground and CCC museum is open. The north gate is open only to the auditorium. The east gate is closed. The South Lake Campground is scheduled to reopen on June 30.
Work to repair the two miles of park road includes refilling the washout areas, rebuilding the shoulders and relaying the road. The park clean up will require the removal of tons of silt from the road, lower picnic areas and shelters.
The boat ramp parking lot for Backbone Lake was damaged when floodwaters scoured out two to three feet of fill along its edges. Contractors will be working to get the ramp repaired by July 4.
The Iowa DNR’s AmeriCorps trail crew is currently assessing the damage to park trail system.
Other parks are also impacted from the high water.
Palisades-Kepler State Park: The campground is open. The boat ramp and lower road is closed because of high water from the Cedar River.
Wapsipinicon State Park: The campground and upper picnic areas are open. The lower road along the river that leads to the boat ramp and rotary lodge is closed.
Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area: There are no flooding concerns in the recreation area and the roads into the park are currently open. However, it is projected that Blairsferry Road, the main road most users take to Pleasant Creek, will be closed in the next few days because of rising water in the Cedar River. Lewis Bottoms Road, which is the other entry road, also crosses the Cedar River and is expected to be closed either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Springbrook State Park: The park is closed.
Rock Creek State Park: The 33 lake side campsites are closed. The rest of the campground is open.
Summerset State Park: The park is closed.
George Wyth State Park: The park is closed through at least June 16.
Pine Lake State Park: The park and campground are open. The boat ramp along the Iowa River is closed. The four CCC cabins are closed through June 19.
Walnut Woods State Park: The park is closed.
Ledges State Park: The park and campground are open. Canyon Road and Lower Canyon Road are closed, possibly through the weekend.
Dolliver State Park: The south entrance and the south lodge are open. All other facilities in the park are closed.
Big Creek State Park: High water is impacting certain areas of the park, but the park remains open. Park staff are closing the Des Moines River parking lots north and south of the Sycamore Access on 66th St. The Neal Smith bike trail is closed from Sycamore Access on south until further notice. If the river continues to rise, the parking lots along 26th may be impacted.
Most state park and recreation area equestrian trails are closed.
For the latest information, contact the park directly. A listing is available on the DNR website www.iowadnr.gov then click on the State Parks link. |
