Show i 1 IIi f Y eat T 1 J- J J J IE 1 tl Il v I 1 I r fl II s I y 1 sr- sr se seV V 1 4 1 ti I lAUNCHING BOATS at Antelope Most of the boats used at Flaming Gorge are trans trans- transported transported ported from home borne on boat trailers Paved ramps extend Into the reservoir at 9 launching launch launch- launchIng Ing sites 6 in the portion administered by the National Park Service and 3 In the Ashley National for Foret t Pickup campers with boat trailers attached seem to have rapidly become the most popular form of recreation n equipment for those who boat and fish at Flaming Grorge e U Us S Pork Park Service Keeps Pace With Booming flaming Gorge e By Weldon W Gratton GrattonI I Superintendent The year 1966 again marked markeda a big increase in the number of of visitors to the portion of the Recreation Area administered by the National Park Service outside of the Ashley National Forest It was wasa wasa a year too in which a number of addi additional onal facilities s were were provided to help visitors fully enjoy their outdoor reC recreation experience By the end of October with November and December yet yel to be counted attendance in the combined Park Service and Forest Forest Service portions had bad come close to earlier pro pre of a million visitors in 1966 Tl The e combined total w was s representing a 27 percent per per- percent cent Increase over the preceding preceding ing year Of that total had visited the portion adminis- adminis administered by the an increase of 56 percent The proportion proportion- proportionately larger increase in this portion Is attributed in part to the excellent fishing success be- be be lug enjoyed in the northern part of the lake and in part to the Park Services Service's continuing pro pro- program gram of development in that vicinity STREAMING through the gateway towns of Vernal utah and Green River Wyoming flock to Flaming Gorge with pickup campers trailers and boats Sueh traffic Is particularly evident on sum sum- summer summer mer weekends especially when a holiday is Involved Of the total visitors in the per por- portion tion nearly a third were counted as campers and andover andover over a half were coun coun- coun counted ted as fishermen some of whom fished through the ice in winter Most of the boats are transported on trailers to and from the recreation area with each visit power boat launchings were counted in the portion sail boats and andr androw r row w boats Along Along with the camping boat boat- boating boating ing and fishing fun sightseeing was included among the activities of visitors swim swim- swimming ming and water skiing among and picnicking among 6 71 I TO FACILITATE these water oriented recreation activities at Flaming Gorge the th National Park Service in 1966 completed developments about in the Governments Government's 1966 fiscal year and commenced commenced ed developments which will cost about in the 1967 fiscal year Lucerne Valley Development Of the major developed areas in the portion Lucerne Valley Currently receives the heaviest use and has the most development nt Lying in Utah about 8 miles east of Manila where s for or admin admin- adminIStration of the Lucerne Valley R Ranger nger District have been de de- de developed the area is connected to Wyoming Highway by a 3 mile access Fa Fa- Fa Facilities for visitor use include a launching ramp and boat docks parking area for far cars cars with trailers campground with four modern comfort stations picnic ground with 4 sun shel shel- shel shelters and comfort station li life e guarded swim beach fish clean P 7 ff V fi TM c 1 1 It 5 I fw r it B 1 I t u 1 R r ti tiR tig tia Ii t a g y 1 JI nA 1 4 I I a y i iy 1 v vM M M GR t wa l v w a u uI uY I Y y WAYSIDE EXHIBIT SHELTER The b bulletin boards bo pl placed ced by the National Park Service Service at the head of tamps ramps contain information on safe boating practices and other items of interest to persons person's about to embark on Flaming Gorge waters Tragic claImed 3 victims in 1966 and only 1 had been claimed before Through its continuing efforts to protect visitors visitor from harm the Service hopes to tomake tomake make 1967 an free accident year Tf IE 1 L Lm m j ft i Iii P 1 w 1 I r r t t Ir l t 6 jt ri W w r j CAMPSITE SHADE STRUCTURE To offset the lack of nat nat- natural natural ural shade at Flaming Gorge north of the A Ashley hley Nation Nation- National al 01 Forest the National Park Service has installed tures like this which cast shade over picnic tables in the Antelope Flat campground More will be Installed Installed next year in the lucerne Valley campground Planting and ir ir- ir irrigation In both campgrounds also atso is planned to enhance the campsite environs ing station sanitary trailer ling dumping station and concession facilities facilities The concession oper- oper operated sited by Robert C Witherspoon of at the Flaming Gorge Corpora Corpora- Corporation Corporation tion provid s a store marine fuls fuJs and other marina services and s sewer systems with a gallon elevated storage tank rind and large sewage lagoon arc milt built to a capacity which will an anticipated future overnight load of f as as many as persons Facilities ties for administration of oC the Lucerne Valley develop develop- development ment some same of oC which m dally used in 1968 include a ranger contact station where visitors can obtain Information and obtain permits for or camping and boat launchings a main main- building and yard and anda a 4 unit apartment for seasonal employees IT LOOKED as though a city j up on the Lucerne Valley shores the I evening of May 29 when camping units spread far be- be beyond yond the site campground to occupy cupy whatever space could be made available for the over over- low Th Those se units with an es- es estimated estimated average average of 4 persons I each Including children spread across the parking area through th picnic area and on- on onI onto onto to the swim beach some dis- dis distance distance I tance away It is expected that thatis is h condition dur- dur during overcrowded cr cl I mg ing future attendance peaks will be somewhat alleviated by campground development now underway or recently d al other sites in the Roc Rec rea lion Area Plans for further im improve prove ment Valley In the near future include Irrigation and nd planting tg to enhance the camping environs structures to provide shade over picnic tables et at t campsites campsite 4 ad ad- ad d modern comfort sta ions and an amphitheatre for evening programs At a ary amphitheatre near the campground evening programs were glyen three nl hig M is I week through the visitor season These programs nis usual usually ly Illustrated with slides or or I movies were conducted by sea sea- seasonal seasonal naturalists on subjects re- re relating relating lating to safe boating practices er the Labor Day weekend and related roads parking areas and walks were paved Other facilities at Antelope Flat now available for public use include a launching ramp and boat docks parking area at head of ramp for cars and boat trailers with nearby comfort station picnic area with 4 sun shelters and comfort station life life- swim swim beach temporary temporary ary amphitheatre where even even- evening ing programs lave bave been cond- cond conducted conducted by naturalists as at Lu- Lu Lucerne cerne Valley sanitary trailer dumping station and fish clean ing station THE FISH cleaning stations at Antelope Flat and Lucerne Valley just completed this fall will be put to their first use when water systems are turned on an in the spring The conven- conven convenience lance of cleaning fish under a roof in a stainless steel sink with running water and ami heavy heavy- duty garbage disposal unit will I facilitate proper handling of th the fish harvest for which the re s is noted It will benefit sanitary conditions in the camp camp- campground campground ground vicinity and it is hoped redu reduce e the number of wasted fish f cans Facilities for at Antel Antelope pe Fla Flat Include contact a station which was was opened for the 1966 s season ason and serves a p purpose similar to the one at Lucerne Vall Valley y With the completion of ofa ofa a nearby maintenance building this fall and the construction of a unit 4 apartment for seas seas- seasonal seasonal onal employees planned in the near future the site will be well equipped to serve as head head- headquarters quarters for the Antelope Flat Ranger District which extends north on the east side of the reservoir more than half the distance to Rock Springs Wyo Wyo- Wyoming ming Depending upon availability of funds for the purpose it is planned In 1967 sir r early 1968 to anchor a floating breakwater some distance off shore from the wind exposed Antelope Flat rec recreation site In order to pro pro- prot t tact ct the launching ramp and boat docks from damaging and hazardous waves Also in plans for the near future are 2 more campground comfort stations a bathhouse at the swim beach beach and irrigation of trees shrubs grass Buckboard Crossing Development Consid Considerable progress was made this year at the next lOa lOa- ma or lakeshore area to be devel- devel pd Known as Buck Buck- oard Crossing the area lies in on tM the w st side of 1 1 b e golo g y of the ther r gion its wildlife and Its his his- Antelope Flat Development The second most extensively extensively- d d lakeshore recreation site is Antelope Flat Lying in Utah on the east side of the reservoir it is accessible at the theand and nd of utah highway which 10 miles beyond Dutch John where the main headquarters headquarters of the National Park Ser Ser- Service Service vice are located A site campground with 2 modern comfort st stations and 25 camp camp- campita campsite site ita shade structures wa waS com corn corn- pl plated ted In time for heavy use Use ov ov- h he towns of Green River Wyo and Manila Utah oil oil- m ng An d access road from Wyoming was constructed his year and will be topped tapped next year with bituminous pay i Ing A gallon elevated water tank has been erected a floating water intake system op operating rating from a pump on an anoff off offshore shore barge has been l led d and a sewage lagoon has taken shape With next next springs spring's completion of the water and ewer systems and the luen installation of campsite facilities in the 66 sites which li lie along two loop roads Buckboard Crossing visitors tors will soon find their use of of the area considerably facilitated ed The Buckboard Crossing area is rapidly becoming popular even while a launching ramp small boat dock and pit toilets have beets been the only available facilities increase of boat docks and provIsion of structures tires tures for or visitor contact and I rang r activities rn to lien he t available or nearing comple comple- completion tion to the above three major majorI I tl developed areas launching I ramps also are ara available at j three e oth r Wyoming sites atI I squaw v Can Can- yon and Ranch Pend- Pend dIll dig later dev d v to more fully meet the needs of water sites primItive a limited amount of prim prim- campground development is available for far those who bring their culinary water Other National Park Service Other aids to the public en- en nt of the Rc Recreation Area Continued on page 2 Flaming Gorge Continued from page 1 in in have been Installed thon In 1966 These in in- in etude markers buoys to i 1 d end to ate e the Wyoming border liri er l t i wal rs and sov eral r navigation lights A num- num bet berof of dir and cotton sl signs ns have been instate led On the Lucerne Valley VaHey and and Antelope Fiat Fot ramps pre Caution signs were erected as API Ver l measures taken In En an effort to prevent recur recur- recurrence rence of trag tragedy dy Such uch as the onu last summer sum mer which ch took tWI liV lives S when an occupied car rolled into the lake A major was wall taken In toward the goal of provid- provid lug Ini all services needEd by tors to have a well informed safe and enjoyable outdoor fe re- re cu cre atlon experience nce Along Wyoming at the sr rth end l th the town toW of f ren River com le of buildings wa was completed ri M June to com com- comprise prise h for the Green Gr en River r Ranger District Tito complex consists of two buildings s a residence and a ranger contact station to which a building and yard are attach d The contact contact station contains ranger offices public r st and a visitors lobby in which al a eu f model of th Blaming Gorge Recreation tion Area Are has bo ban n installed like tits one ip In the visitors center center at Flamin Gorge Corge Dam bam DURING CURING THE 1966 1066 summer 3 a t onist was d In th ally app aling t station aid ald a consider able p nt of l Flaming I Gorges Gorge's a J time first r ors stop stop- tJ pd i 1 th m rma tion on I w where to go gI wit w t to see and d do and how to their In In Sept I a pitk rang r was i to 1 the Green Grcen Riv District Op Opp- Opp r from his residence r nce and of of- of fic at at the th station he will be In Ina ina a t to IY render j the public services s and needed neede by th growing number of I r using 1 the upp r part of If the lake The 1 he grounds at the Green RI I Ivel i vet vel station ar are to be nicely landscaped this spring and will i ov watered through ugh a I I I create an Inviting ap- ap apI app ap p ar nce F Future ture plans include the tion of wall exhibits as an aid to the visitors visitor's under under- understanding standing of of lie outstanding re- re reI recreation creation opportunities In the I Fla ning Gorge vicinity THEt hB FOI FOREGOING h has s ben been beni beena a resume of visitor use and and de in the adminis portion of the Flaming 1 Gorge Recreation Area as seen near Mal tilt the end of the year 1966 Jh The future Is favorable for n a continuing increase of vis use and a corresponding expansion of facilities Thus the n Area Is steadily gaining significance as as another m uma d the Nations Nation's outdoor recreation assets which are ev 1 r th the more trea treasured rd l as pop pop- population grows and man JUan s eks urbanized |