BLM recreation areas open soon
With the scheduled reopening of the Egin-Hamer Road Saturday, a popular recreation area will open for the season.
The Bureau of Land Management says the Egin Lakes Campground and Day Use area will re-open for the season on Saturday. The Egin-Hamer area is closed over the winter to protect wintering deer, elk and moose herds. The campground is temporarily closed after its water system is shut down and winterized each winter.
“The high number of wintering big game makes shed (antler) hunting a popular and fun activity in this particular area,” said Jeremy Casterson, Upper Snake Field Manager. “And while we encourage the public to enjoy their public lands, we want to remind them that motorized vehicles need to stay on existing roads and trails.”
Vegetation on the Grassy Ridge and Devil Hole fires of 2018 is beginning to recover and BLM is concerned about the potential impact of increased traffic. A number of rehabilitation projects were launched this winter.
Along with the Idaho Fish and Game Department and private landowners, BLM effectively seeded 27,727 acres in the area to help with stabilization and re-growth of the area.
The Stinking Springs area, near the South Fork of the Snake River, will reopen for the season on May 1. It is also closed to motorized vehicles and human entry to support winter wildlife survival.