(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - The Ketchikan Misty Fiords District Ranger, Susan Howle, has officially closed the Signal Creek Campground in the Ward Lake Recreation Area due to flooding and forecasted heavy rains. The closure is for the next seven to 10 days, depending on weather and site conditions at the campgrounds.

Ward Lake Photo courtesy U.S. Forest Service - Tongass National Forest

The road is closed near the Perseverance Trailhead parking lot; however the day use area and trail access remain open to recreationists. The public is encouraged to exercise extreme caution because of potentially fast moving water, falling trees and erosion undercutting roads and trails in the area.

Heavy rain has raised the level of Ward Lake high enough to reach the day use shelters, and some campsites in the Grassy Point and Signal Creek campground are completely underwater. In other areas, lake levels are at and across the road. Heavy rain is forecast for the next week, increasing the potential for higher levels of water to come.

In addition to the risk from forecast rain, all facilities in the Ward Lake Recreation area and the Ward Lake Trail could be further flooded by waters from the Connell Lake Dam. About one mile upstream of Ward Lake, the dam is filled to capacity and water is currently being released over the top, contributing additional flow into Ward Creek.

The Ketchikan Misty Fiords District Ranger will continue to monitor conditions and initiate any repairs necessary when water recedes. Updates will be available on the Tongass National Forest Facebook (U.S. Forest Service – Tongass National Forest) page, Twitter (@TongassNF), and from local news outlets.

Editing by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

U.S. Forest Service - Tongass National Forest
www.fs.usda.gov/tongass

 

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