Jones Island State Park Closed

The 1991 boating season may be in full sail today, but one of the favorite state parks in the San Juan Islands is closed because of major storm damage.

Jones Island State Park, southwest of Orcas Island, likely will be closed all summer, said Jim Collins, state parks assistant regional supervisor.

Camping areas on other islands will be usable, but at reduced capacity and cluttered with fallen trees.

And parks managers warn that fire hazards are considerable.

"In some areas we have storm damage like I haven't seen for 25 years," said Collins. "And we're facing some of the highest fire danger we've ever seen in the island parks."

Some areas of the San Juans endured hours of sustained winds of more than 100 miles an hour in December, leaving islands strewn with fallen trees. The winds stripped vegetation from the trees, leaving the forest floor covered with high amounts of combustible material.

Collins said campsites on Jones Island are closed because thousands of trees have fallen and pose hazards to hikers. The Parks Department has taken down buoys and moorage around the island to discourage visitors.

The island gets extensive use in May, especially on the Victoria Day and Memorial Day holidays.

Hope Island, near Deception Pass, is also closed after sustaining severe storm damage, but Collins said it could be reopened this summer.

Clark Island, east of Orcas Island, was also damaged by wind storms, but some camp sites have been cleared, and several services, such as toilets, are working. Eighty percent of James Island is open, Collins said.

Other San Juan islands - Matia, Patos, Sucia, Stuart and Saddlebag - are open.

"They won't be at their prettiest, but they'll largely be usable," Collins said.

Stan Kurowski, recreation forester for the Department of Natural Resources, said all island parks managed by the agency will be open.