Tents and trailers like these at Loleta Campground this weekend may still be around in the future, but the visitors may have to bring in their own water and toilet facilities, or dig a hole.

The Allegheny National Forest ranger districts in Bradford and Marienville are proposing to close, or try to interest private concessionaires in running about a dozen of its campgrounds and other recreation facilities over the next few years. 

The ANF staff scheduled two open houses, one at each location Saturday, June 28, to share their ideas with the public, and gather comments in what will kick off a 30-day public comment period. The forest service hopes the proposed changes will trim deferred maintenance costs and operating expenses by an estimated $3.4 million.

The proposed changes are part of a five-year “Recreation Niche” plan required at a national level of all forests, to define and create a specific “niche” for their individual forests. The proposals come when budgets (especially for deferred maintenance on aging facilities, such as water/sewer systems) are limited, and the facilities are experiencing a decline in public use.

“We’ve had to reduce our overall operations and maintenance costs. A lot of these are older facilities, difficult to continue to operate and maintain,” said Tony Scardina, the Bradford district ranger. “At this point my preference is to focus on (4-5) specific sites and maintain those sites properly, rather than having lots of sites with mediocre or low use, poorly maintained.”  

With papers drafted by the district rangers following a public meeting in Sheffield, public comment period, and internal analysis of the facilities’ use and costs, specify the proposed changes:

The Bradford ranger district proposes to: 

-partially decommission Kinzua Beach, removing its wastewater system, including shower rooms and concession stand. The ANF is hoping to create a new facility with partners and private businesses in the next five years and consider connecting to the Wolf Run Marina system. Low public use and ageing facilities are the problem there.

-partially decommission, but maintain the Kinzua Point Information Center facility part-time with volunteers, plus seek private partners or businesses interested in remodeling site.

-decommission the Roper Hollow boat launch because ANF believes a better facility is available at Webbs Ferry.

-decommission the Sugar Bay dispersed camping area because a similar, more highly used facility is available at Willow Bay

-decommission the Tracy Ridge Recreation Area in favor of Willow Bay, which is better used.

The forest service has begun initial discussions about the Kinzua Beach area with Warren County Commissioners, private businesses, and visitors bureaus, in an attempt to determine that areas future, Scardina said. Cradle of Forestry, the concessionaire which has run the area for the past two years’ permit is up this year.

Scardina said the AFN is also willing to consider improvements to the area around the Allegheny Reservoir, such as allowing cabins, lodges, or restaurants to operate there—provided that the lead (and funding) comes from the private sector, or other partnerships—rather than the federal government.

Rob Fallon, the Marienville district ranger recommends:

-closing and decommissioning Beaver Meadows Campground, and recycling the toilet buildings and gravel to other recreation areas.

-reducing parking at the Buzzard Swamp trailhead by 61 spaces, as it is too large.

-decommissioning the drinking water and waste water systems at the Loleta Campground and Recreation Area. Public use has diminished there, Fallon said, perhaps because of day-use fees, which are $18.

-decommissioning the Tionesta Reservoir boat access campground or transfer it to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

-decommissioning the water and waste water systems at Twin Lakes campground due to the high costs of maintaining them, and low public use.

Areas selected by ANF for improvement include:

-replacing or repairing the water systems at the Jakes Rocks Overlook

-increasing capacity at the all-terrain vehicle trailhead at Willow Creek.

-adding two designated boat launch areas at Irwin Run canoe launch on the Clarion River.

- adding public toilets at trailheads of the Marienville ATV Trail.

If all of the proposals are implemented, expected savings include $2.5 million for deferred maintenance; annual savings in operating costs of $109,000; $325,000 in maintenance, and $436,000 in managing parking areas, according to the ANF.