One of the campsites at the River Stone Campground in Alberta.
ALBERTA
From the Edmonton Journal:
The Alberta government has ordered a campground management company to stop illegally diverting water to an RV campground.
The order was issued against Smoky Valley Aggregate Inc. which operates the River Stone Golf Course and Campground northeast of Grande Prairie.
Provincial inspectors discovered on June 4 that water was being diverted from a surface pond on the property to a 75-site RV park, said Jacalyn Ambler, spokeswoman with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development.
The enforcement order was issued June 7, after a subsequent inspection revealed the company still wasn’t following provincial regulations.
The company’s director, Braden Rycroft, did not have either of the licenses necessary to operate the water system, Ambler said.
The order requires the water system be immediately dismantled, Ambler said. It can be set up again if the company adheres to the necessary requirements, she added.
NEBRASKA
From the Oakland Independent:
A grand opening celebration of the Summit Lake campground was held on May 18 to celebrate the addition of 19 new campsites, bringing the total to 30.
The Bob Eckdahl Campground, named after the former park superintendent, now feature electrical hookups, something Eckdahl believed would be a great addition to the park.
Free admittance and activities for the children brought a host of families to the celebration.
Summit Lake was created by the Nebraska Recreation Department (NRD) and is managed by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The site, near Tekamah, features fishing, camping, picnicking and nature trails.
NEW YORK
From the Jamestown Post-Journal:
The New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation recently reopened the improved Group Camp 5 in the Quaker area of Allegany State Park.
The $733,000 project to improve the camp was funded through Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s New York Works initiative, which is revitalizing parks and historic sites across New York.
Though popular, the 90-year-old cabins at Group Camp 5 had fallen into a disrepair and the area was served by pit toilets. State funding paid to replace deteriorated cabins with 18 new four-bed cabins along with construction of a modern bathroom, including showers and a small laundry. In addition, renovations to the central mess hall and access improvements for people with disabilities in all areas of the camp were completed as part of the project. Patrick Construction of East Amherst built the bathroom facility and state park forces constructed the cabins and renovated the mess hall.
WASHINGTON
From the Seattle Times:
Gov. Jay Inslee’s office advanced plans Thursday to close 34 state agencies including the state parks system if lawmakers fail to pass a budget by the end of the month.
The state is expected to start sending notices to thousands of workers on Monday to warn of possible layoffs.
“Absent an appropriation by the Legislature, most government operations cannot continue to operate. About two-thirds of all state agencies and boards and commissions will cease operations or be mostly shut down,” said Nicholas Brown, the governor’s general council.
However, at the same time the governor’s staff was detailing the effects of a shutdown, budget negotiators in the House and Senate said they were getting closer to a deal.
KANSAS
From the Pittsburg Sun:
The collective efforts of several area agencies made the RV park off of the U.S. Highway 69 Bypass an even more appealing place to stay.
Pittsburg tends to have traffic from two wheels on up throughout the summer, and Jim Buche, the member of Pittsburg Beautiful who spearheaded the project, said the building of a shelter and a showerhouse/restroom facility will add something nice for bikers and RV traffic.
He said Pittsburg State University construction students helped design it a year ago and then began working on the facilities, which were paid for out of Pittsburg Beautiful endowment funds, last fall.
NORTH CAROLINA
From The Associated Press:
State officials say Morrow Mountain State Park in Stanly County is still closed because of damage caused by recent storms.
The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation says the park will remain closed for several weeks as work crews continue to assess damage, remove trees and clear debris from around facilities, roadways, camping areas and trails.
A statement from the division says repairs to damaged structures must be completed before they can be reopened. Hazardous trees on steep terrain may require removal by contractors. No reservations are being accepted for the park’s campsites, picnic shelters and vacation cabins
There were no injuries from the June 13 storm. Several hundred trees were toppled, and at least five park structures, a cabin and vehicles belonging to park visitors were damaged.
