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News

County campsites fill quickly

By BRIAN LEAHY
of The Gazette
It's either been too hot, cold or wet this spring and summer for many people, but apparently not for campers at the Portage County Parks Department's four campgrounds.

"We're a little ahead of last year's all-time record (for the number of campers), which has kind of surprised us … we didn't have a lot of decent weather early on," said county Park Superintendent Gary Speckmann.

Speckmann is glad last week's hot and dry weather kept the grass from growing. It's been so busy at the campgrounds during the Fourth of July holiday that parks employees haven't been able to find many of the department's 132 campsites vacant so they could be mowed.

"As fast as (campers are) pulling out, especially at DuBay and Lake Emily, someone's waiting right in line to get that spot. It doesn't stay open for one minute," Speckmann said.

Because the Fourth fell on a Wednesday, the Parks Department wasn't sure how the Fourth of July holiday "would shake out." One thought was the mid-week Fourth would put a damper on the holiday, but that hasn't been the case. The holiday is lasting longer this year.

"It's going to be a two-week vacation period that we're experiencing," Speckmann said.

Campgrounds filled up early last week for the "first" Fourth of July weekend, he said. For the "second" holiday weekend, Emily and Du Bay parks were full by early Monday. Jordan Park was filling up Tuesday and Collins Park could also fill up. Some campers took the whole week off from their jobs and will stay both weekends.

One factor in last year's record was an increase in the number of campers from Portage County who decided to camp here, instead of traveling out of county, Speckmann said. The number of local campers had been going down or holding steady.

The Parks Department won't know if more residents are camping locally until it reviews campground receipts at the end of the year.

Perhaps higher gasoline prices have kept campers closer to home, Speckmann said, but whatever is causing the increase in campers, he'll take it.

"As long as the campgrounds are full, I don't care what the reason is," Speckmann said.

Revenue from the campsite fees, like all of the Parks Department proceeds, goes into the county's general fund.

The Parks Department has set aside $150,000 for its plans to expand the Lake Emily Park campground by adding 12 campsites on the south side of the lake.

"It would be nice to have the additional sites because we could fill them," Speckmann said.

Plans are to charge campers using the 12 future sites a higher fee. The Parks Department will call them "exclusive sites," because they will overlook Lake Emily and offer more privacy than the existing Lake Emily campsites on the north side of the lake.

Some final steps still need to be taken, like zoning approval by the village of Amherst Junction, before the project can advance. Work may not begin until fall, but Speckmann isn't making any promises on what work can get done on any project the department is doing this year. A long winter, wet spring and recent storm damage have combined to put the department, and the Wisconsin Conservation Corps crew that helps it, behind schedule.

The extended winter and ample snow resulted in the downhill area at Standing Rocks Park and cross country ski trails staying open longer than normal, meaning employees had to work overtime to keep them groomed. They don't get paid overtime, so to make up for the added hours they take compensatory (comp) time, leaving the department under-staffed at times.

Parks employees also had to clean up debris following the June 11 storm that struck southern Portage County.

Carrie Frost Park in the town of Almond was the most heavily hit, where seven or eight "monster size" oaks that were lost took a crew of nine workers and six chainsaws all day to clean up, Speckmann said. Workers also had to clear fallen trees on trails at Standing Rocks Park, so mountain bikers and mowers could get through. Workers will return in the fall to finish removing damaged trees.

Oak wilt is one concern Speckmann has following the storm.

Trees with open wounds, like from broken branches, attract the beetles that spread the disease. The oaks damaged at Carrie Frost Park are all white oaks, which normally don't die from oak wilt, but they can carry the disease. The oaks at Standing Rocks Park are red oaks, which are more susceptible to the disease and usually die if infected. Infected trees can spread oak wilt to their neighbors through root grafts.

Foresters recommend people not prune oaks during the growing season to reduce the chance of oaks becoming infected with oak wilt.



	County campsites fill quickly By BRIAN LEAHY of The Gazette It's either been too hot, cold or wet this spring and summer for many people, but apparently not for campers at the Portage County Parks Department's four campgrounds. "We're a little ahead of last year's all-time record (for the number of campers), which has kind of surprised us … we didn't have a lot of decent weather early on," said county Park Superintendent Gary Speckmann. Speckmann is glad last week's hot and dry weather kept the grass from growing. It's been so busy at the campgrounds during the Fourth of July holiday that parks employees haven't been able to find many of the department's 132 campsites vacant so they could be mowed. "As fast as (campers are) pulling out, especially at DuBay and Lake Emily, someone's waiting right in line to get that spot. It doesn't stay open for one minute," Speckmann said. Because the Fourth fell on a Wednesday, the Parks Department wasn't sure how the Fourth of July holiday "would shake out." One thought was the mid-week Fourth would put a damper on the holiday, but that hasn't been the case. The holiday is lasting longer this year. "It's going to be a two-week vacation period that we're experiencing," Speckmann said. Campgrounds filled up early last week for the "first" Fourth of July weekend, he said. For the "second" holiday weekend, Emily and Du Bay parks were full by early Monday. Jordan Park was filling up Tuesday and Collins Park could also fill up. Some campers took the whole week off from their jobs and will stay both weekends. One factor in last year's record was an increase in the number of campers from Portage County who decided to camp here, instead of traveling out of county, Speckmann said. The number of local campers had been going down or holding steady. The Parks Department won't know if more residents are camping locally until it reviews campground receipts at the end of the year. Perhaps higher gasoline prices have kept campers closer to home, Speckmann said, but whatever is causing the increase in campers, he'll take it. "As long as the campgrounds are full, I don't care what the reason is," Speckmann said. Revenue from the campsite fees, like all of the Parks Department proceeds, goes into the county's general fund. The Parks Department has set aside $150,000 for its plans to expand the Lake Emily Park campground by adding 12 campsites on the south side of the lake. "It would be nice to have the additional sites because we could fill them," Speckmann said. Plans are to charge campers using the 12 future sites a higher fee. The Parks Department will call them "exclusive sites," because they will overlook Lake Emily and offer more privacy than the existing Lake Emily campsites on the north side of the lake. Some final steps still need to be taken, like zoning approval by the village of Amherst Junction, before the project can advance. Work may not begin until fall, but Speckmann isn't making any promises on what work can get done on any project the department is doing this year. A long winter, wet spring and recent storm damage have combined to put the department, and the Wisconsin Conservation Corps crew that helps it, behind schedule. The extended winter and ample snow resulted in the downhill area at Standing Rocks Park and cross country ski trails staying open longer than normal, meaning employees had to work overtime to keep them groomed. They don't get paid overtime, so to make up for the added hours they take compensatory (comp) time, leaving the department under-staffed at times. Parks employees also had to clean up debris following the June 11 storm that struck southern Portage County. Carrie Frost Park in the town of Almond was the most heavily hit, where seven or eight "monster size" oaks that were lost took a crew of nine workers and six chainsaws all day to clean up, Speckmann said. Workers also had to clear fallen trees on trails at Standing Rocks Park, so mountain bikers and mowers could get through. Workers will return in the fall to finish removing damaged trees. Oak wilt is one concern Speckmann has following the storm. Trees with open wounds, like from broken branches, attract the beetles that spread the disease. The oaks damaged at Carrie Frost Park are all white oaks, which normally don't die from oak wilt, but they can carry the disease. The oaks at Standing Rocks Park are red oaks, which are more susceptible to the disease and usually die if infected. Infected trees can spread oak wilt to their neighbors through root grafts. Foresters recommend people not prune oaks during the growing season to reduce the chance of oaks becoming infected with oak wilt.