Park alters campground to save July Creek trees

In a move made to save Olympic National Park's July Creek trees, the 28-site campground will be converted to a day-use picnic area effective tomorrow.

July Creek is a tent-only walk-in campground, located on the Quinault North Shore Road. Years of camping have compacted the soil, damaged root systems and weakened the centuries-old trees. The campground is located among one of the last remaining old growth forest stands on Lake Quinault's north shore. Many of the trees are four to nine feet in diameter.

"Soil compaction frequently leads to weakened, diseased trees that are increased of toppling or losing one of their huge branches during a storm," said David Morris, the superintendent.

"To provide for visitor safety in this situation, we are confronted with either to remove the diseased trees to allow continued camping or to convert the area to day use. We have chosen to convert July Creek to a picnic area, maintaining safe visitor access to this beautiful site, without sacrificing its magnificent trees."

Camping in the Quinault Valley is available at the North Fork campground and at three U.S. forest service campgrounds along the South Shore Road. The Olympic National Park Graves Creek campground is open, but because of washout and closure of Graves Creek Road, it is currently accessible only by a six-mile walk from the intersection of the Quinault South Shore and Graves Creek Roads.

"We realize that the combined effect of the Graves Creek washout and conversion of July Creek to a day-use area means a reduction of park facilities and campsites in the Quinault Valley," said Morris. "We are committed to finding a way to reopen the Graves Creek Road as soon as possible, even if we can only provide for single-lane traffic at first. Every effort is being made to work with the Quinault community to ensure we are doing all we can to address local concerns and suggestions."

For more details about camping in Olympic National Park, call 360-565-3130 or visit the Web site at www.nps.gov/olym.

Notes

• Tennant Interpretive Center at 5326 Nielsen Road in Ferndale offers panoramic views and a meandering boardwalk through swamp and wetlands. It helps visitors interpret the area's native plant and animal wildlife. The area is open noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. For details, call 360-384-3064.

• The Skagit Waterfowl Festival is July 13 at the Skagit County Fairgrounds in Mount Vernon to promote the heritage of waterfowl hunting and conservation. The event is sponsored by the Washington Waterfowl Association. Events include a decoy collectors rally, a duck-calling contest, decoy-carving contest, barbecue and presentations from guides, vendors and artists. Cost is $3 per person. For details visit the Web site at www.waduck.org.

• For a quick and easy visit to a picnicking and wildlife viewing area, head to the state Fish and Wildlife's I-82 Wildlife Area, which is 17 parcels of property along the Yakima River and I-82 from Union Gap to the Zillah interchange. The area is known for its seven man-made fishing ponds and three boat ramps.

The riparian habitat along the river, sloughs and ponds offers excellent brooding and nesting for ducks, geese, herons, shorebirds, pheasant, quail and red-winged blackbirds and many other songbirds. It is also possible to spot many other wildlife in the area.

• Ever wonder what it feels like to fly like an eagle? Doug Stroop, a paraglider pilot and instructor, will discuss the joys of non-motorized free flight in an aircraft on July 16, 7 p.m., at the Seattle REI store, 222 Yale Avenue North in Seattle. For details, call 206-223-1944.

• The Tacoma Nature Center's Critter Chatter Mini Camp is July 10-11. It is open for ages 4-5, and cost is $25 per child. Explore the world of wildlife through stories, crafts, nature walks and games. For details, call 253-591-6439.

• The Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 100 Brown Farm Road, in Olympia, is hosting a free lecture titled "Earth, Mountains, and the Geological History of Washington," at 7 p.m. The speaker will be Catherine Townsend, senior regional geologist at the Burke Museum, University of Washington. For details, call 360-753-9467.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com.