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Date: November 1, 2008

Closures at Whiskeytown with the Arrival of Rain and Possible Debris Flows

 

With the arrival of rain this weekend, and the potential for 3-5 inches of precipitation in western Shasta County during this series of storms, the National Park Service is closing trails and roads in watersheds that were impacted by the summer wildfires. Over 6,244 acres burned on the rugged slopes of Shasta Bally in highly erosive soils. The potential for large scale mudslides and debris flow is high. These flows can impact the watersheds of Boulder Creek, Brandy Creek and Crystal Creek, including all of the roads, trails, campgrounds and picnic areas in these areas.

 

The National Park Service has been preparing for these closures for months and will have signs and closures in place where appropriate. The park will re-evaluate after these storms pass to determine whether the closures should be lifted or remain in effect through the end of the wet season next spring. “Keeping visitors safe is our highest priority. These debris flows can become avalanches of mud, trees, rock, and water and be extremely dangerous. They come down without warning and can be very serious; therefore, we ask visitors to respect these closures for everyone’s safety,” stated Superintendent Jim Milestone. “Many areas of the park will remain open, such as the Shasta Mine Loop, Horse Camp, and Oak Bottom areas. We encourage visitors to take advantage of this opportunity to explore the southeastern portion of the park, which was unaffected by the fires,” continued Milestone.

 

For further information, maps and brochures explaining the closures, please contact the Whiskeytown Visitor Center at (530) 246-1225 or visit the Whiskeytown Website at www.nps.gov/whis. 

 

-NPS-