Vandalism and lack of use of two forest rest rooms will result in their removal, reported Derek Padilla, district ranger for the Dolores district.
The bathrooms at Sage Hen near Dolores and Dry Canyon on McPhee Reservoir are slated to be torn down.
“The Sage Hen rest room has not been functioning for some time and continues to be a vandalism issue,” Padilla said. “We had to weld the door shut to prevent further destruction.”
The Dry Canyon rest rooms at the end of County Road 510 have also suffered from a lot of vandalism. The remote area on the shores of McPhee does not see many visitors to justify the facility, so it will also be removed.
Also, on the Lower Dolores River, the Ferris Campground has been identified for closure, but there is a local effort to try and keep it open. The campground only gets 2-3 percent occupancy per year, Padilla said. It costs $5,000 per year to operate but only generates $100 per year in revenues.
“Dolores county has expressed interest in keeping it open by providing in-kind work,” Padilla said.
But because Ferris Campground is within Montezuma County, Dolores County may need to partner with Montezuma County on rescuing it. Dolores County would also like to see the paved trail along the lower Dolores River near Ferris campground fixed and maintained. It was built to accommodate people with disabilities, but has fallen into disrepair because of budget cuts.