Lakeside Lodge Environmental Assessment

by Bill Boender

District Ranger Craig Trulock of the Pinedale Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest presided over a public meeting held as part of the 30-day public comment period which ends June 21. The environmental assessment involves proposed expansion of Lakeside Lodge.

Of four alternatives to the initial proposal, The Forest Service announced that alternative 3 is the preferred option. These alternatives include adding a 25-room lodge, a 4,000 square-foot pavilion, four to seven new cabins, up to nine new campsites, 39 new boat slips or moorings, and additional parking spaces. Nine acres would be added to the current permit area, with five acres adjacent to Sandy Beach withdrawn, for a net area increase of four acres. Operations would also be permitted year-round rather than the current May 1 to Nov. 1 period of operation.

A Tuesday meeting on the issue was a continuation of a process which included a scoping document issued in January,2001, outlining the proposed expansion and identifying issues that needed to be addressed. A public meeting was held in the spring of 2002 to gather public comments. Thirteen issues were identified and addressed with acceptable dispositions found and included in the Master Development Plan. Twelve mitigation measures were established and will be included in the plan.

Some 30 people attended this public meeting, with the majority expressing their approval for proceeding with the proposed improvements. Four persons expressed various concerns about added pollution and impacts to the area. All comments will be included and will be part of the record when a final decision is issued. Those having questions or wishing to comment may contact Craig Trulock, District Ranger, or Cindy Stein, Natural Resource Manager/Recreation, at the Pinedale Ranger District Office 307-367-4326.