JACKSON HOLE, WYO – Forest Service officials admit they haven’t been here. At least not in a long, long time. Spring runoff is making a mess of things—wiping out bridges, exploding culverts, and wrecking roads. It’s still too early at this point to assess the damage but when the waters do recede, the Bridger-Teton will try to prioritize what gets fixed first and what may have to wait—for years, even—until they have the time and money to get to it.
“What we are trying to get across and out to the public is: We are aware of the situation and we are doing all we can,” said BTNF spokesperson Mary Cernicek. “But right now, we are still waiting to see the extent of the damage before we can even prioritize what we will be getting to first.”
Several roads, trails, and campgrounds have been compromised. Flood waters, landslides, washouts are everywhere. Bridger-Teton officials are closing roads when they find them unsafe. That list is growing.
“Access is an important aspect of the Forest Service mission, and right now we are triaging what areas to address first,” said BTNF supervisor Tricia O’Connor. “Typically during this time of year we are blading and grading roads, but due to the wet conditions and runoff, we instead rented a dump truck and excavator, and we are in the process of repairing many slumps and slides impacting roads and infrastructure across the forest.”
Emergency repairs that forest personnel would normally get right on may now be delayed due to budget constraints. Closures in some places may remain in place for several years for non-critical access.
“The Bridger-Teton cannot afford to replace every bridge that fails nor every road that washes out,” O’Connor said. For example, the Blind Bull closure, on the Greys River Ranger District, may be at least a year, but could be indefinite depending on availability of funding for reconstruction.
It’s possible for the public to pitch in. Anyone with the equipment, experience, and ability to help repair roads could be utilized by the B-T. Public and partner support for the restoration of these roads and access is going to be needed. Anyone who has road building experience who would like to assist in getting some of these landslides or blowouts repaired can contact Forest Engineer Mike Oltman at 307-739-5445.
There are impassable roads in Lincoln, Teton and Sublette counties all within the Bridger-Teton’s jurisdiction.
As of June 8, 2017 the following emergency closures are in place:
Kemmerer District
- Hams Fork Road between Kelly Guard Station and Big Springs Camp Ground – Closed- Washout
- LaBarge Road near Fish Barrier – Closed – Washout
- Minnie Holden Creek at Fontenelle Road – Closed – Washout
Big Piney District
- South Piney Creek -Closed- Washout
- Thompson Pass – Closed – Washout
Greys River District
- Blind Bull – Closed – Landslide
- Cottonwood Creek – Closed – Washout
Jackson District
- Ditch Creek- Closed -Washout
- Crystal Creek Campground – Closed – Flooded
- Little Granite Creek – Closed – Washout
Blackrock Ranger District
- South Fork Spread Creek (Leidy Lake Road)- Closed -Washout
Pinedale District
- Teepee Creek – Closed -Washout
