Ranger Brad Burns of the Forest Service just called me in response to a message that I left this week. I had heard that there were Forest Service Employees at the hotsprings last weekend, on March 18th.
Ranger Brad confirmed this. There is a new Recreation Officer in charge of the Deep Creek area. This visit to the hotsprings was to show her the area. There were photographs taken. (I had heard that the employees asked permission. Brad said they did not ask permission.) Brad said that the area was very clean and looked like people were taking care of the trash. He said it looked like people were making a conscience effort to take care of the area. Brad said there were a few camps set up.
The Forest Service Employees were Gina Thompson (Recreational Officer), Allison Stewart (Ranger), Jennifer Smith, James Russell, Brad Burns and a volunteer. Gina Thompson is working on a new reacreational plan for the Deep Creek drainage. Gina Thompson can be reached at <b>(909) 337-2444</b>. I asked Brad if the public could participate in the process, he said talk to Gina.
Anyone who is planning to attend this meeting on March 27th with the Forest Service, if available, please bring either a tape recorder or video camera. These are public meetings and we have a right to record the meeting. We need to ask some specific questions on the future of Deep Creek. There are definite issues that the Forest Service has provided to me in writing. Issues such as overnight camping, trash, sanitary facilities, cutting down trees, etc.