Forest meetings set for recreation, rental options

SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST — The public is invited to attend a pair of presentations about newly acquired land and facilities in the Western Divide Ranger District, Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Presentations will occur in Springville at the Springville Veterans Memorial Building from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 17 in California Hot Springs at the Hot Springs Community Center.

District Ranger Priscilla Summers will provide information about the Upper Grouse Valley facilities. Following the presentation will be an opportunity for attendees to provide input on the cabins and the recreational opportunities they see most valuable for the area.

The property is located in Upper Grouse Valley near Blue Ridge on Mountain Road 276, a few miles off Balch Park Road. It is nested in an open scenic valley which contains two rustic log cabins, a combined warehouse/living quarters, and two lakes (reservoirs) surrounded by pines and oaks.

The district is proposing $175, $200 and $250 per night for each of the three cabins. Public involvement will assist in determining the fair price for the cabins for group use or individual use. Ninety-five percent of these fees remain at the Western Divide Ranger District and are used to operate and maintain these facilities. 

This fee proposal is currently being presented to a citizen’s advisory committee, called the California Recreation Resource Advisory Committee, or RRAC. Committee members represent a broad array of recreation interest groups and help to ensure public issues and concerns about recreation fees are addressed.

Questions or comments concerning these proposed fees can be e-mailed to mcole@fs.fed.us or mailed to Sequoia National Forest, Attn: Mary Cole, 1839 S. Newcomb St., Porterville, CA 93257.

Plans are for the Upper Grouse Valley cabins to become available for recreation rental beginning in April 2010.

For more information or to provide comment, contact Summers, 539-2607 Ext. 210, or psummers@fs.fed.us.

-- Contact The Recorder newsroom at 784-5000, Ext. 1043.