Drought forces trail closure
The Chickasaw National Recreation Area near Sulphur has closed the Rock Creek multi-use trail area and its hunting areas due to the drought.
The high summer temperatures combined with the lack of rain have resulted in extreme fire hazard conditions in south-central Oklahoma.
Since July 1, the Chickasaw National Recreation Area has received less than 1-1/2” of precipitation.
These conditions have necessitated a temporary closure of the Rock Creek multi-use trail area and all recreation area hunting areas.
The Rock Creek multi-use trail area is now closed to all visitor use including hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding. All hunting areas also are closed for an indefinite period of time.
The Rock Creek multi-use trail area and hunting areas are located west and southwest of residential areas adjacent to Sulphur.
An indefinite temporary closure of these areas to public use will improve visitor safety and provide a greater level of response, should fire suppression emergency response be necessary, officials said.
In addition, no swimming is being allowed in Travertine Creek in the recreation area. Buffalo and Antelope Springs which feed Travertine Creek are pretty much dried up so the creek isn’t receiving any fresh water.
There still is a temporary ban on ash producing fires for any fires utilized by visitors in park campground or picnic grills.
Gas grills for cooking are still permitted. Campsites are available for camping.
Visitors may also visit the Travertine Nature Center open each day from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
For more information about visiting Chickasaw National Recreation Area and camping, call the Travertine Nature Center, (580) 622-7234.
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The park has done a good job of taking out a lot of the eastern red cedar and burning some parts of the park off.
However, if they were more aggressive and just burn everything they need to burn in one season rather than stretching it out, it would be much easier to maintain.
Of course, then they wouldn’t have a lot of work to do for awhile, and might be able to save some money in full time staff…
Hopefully it’s re-opened and many hunters take part in the doe only harvest and get the doe numbers down so they can re-institute an antlered harvest. Maybe instead of banning it completely they could require a deer to have 8 points or better before being harvested.