By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
PITTBURG – State officials are working with their federal counterparts to take stock of the damage inflicted on trails in the Great North Woods that suffered catastrophic damage from a rain storm July 10, which also impacted vast parts of Vermont.
It is expected to cost millions of dollars to repair culverts, bridges and dirt roads washed away and could impact tourism, particularly OHRV and snowmobiles and access to remote camps leased on land within the forest.
Johanna Lyons, state park planning and development specialist for the Division of Parks and Recreation within the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, issued a preliminary report Friday in response to questions about the extent of damage to the state’s trail system.
“On July 10th a summer storm dumped six inches of rain in the Great Northwoods region causing significant damage to the roads, crossings and bridges on the Connecticut Lakes Headwaters property.
“The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, after working diligently to make emergency repairs to roads to aid in the evacuation of lease camp owners, has been assessing the damage and consulting with the property owner, (Bluesource Sustainable, formerly Aurora), the Fish and Game Department and other stakeholders to prioritize repairs.
“The state-owned portion of Indian Stream Road was greatly impacted and will remain closed to vehicles at mile marker 8.
“DNCR recognizes that camp leaseholders are anxious to have vehicle access to their camps, and we are considering options for limited access. All roads remain open to pedestrian and bicycle use. The snowmobile trail network and connections to the statewide trail network are being evaluated. This effort will take time since some areas are still inaccessible due to the road damage.
“The ATV trail network will reopen on Saturday, however, there are some closures in place and riders are asked to follow the detours and respect barricades that are erected,” Lyons wrote.
She said the Federal Emergency Management Agency toured the property, which is mostly in Pittsburg this week and documented some of the damage.
It is calculating cost estimates.
“These repairs are unbudgeted costs which will need to be paid from operational budgets. If a disaster is declared by FEMA, then the DNCR will be eligible for reimbursement of 75 percent of costs for repairs. Current estimates are exceeding $500,000 to repair the damage, therefore, the DNCR 25 percent share is estimated to be approximately $125,000.”
The following roads are closed to vehicle use until repairs can be made; Big Brook, Indian Stream, Hall Stream, West Side Indian Stream, Coon Brook, Sophie’s Lane, and Trestle Brook that goes to Beaman Hill.
Executive Councilor Joe Kenney, R-Wakefield, said he has been speaking with business owners impacted by this and 2023 rain damage from the exact same day of the year, and is trying to get more information on why funding approved June 26 by the Executive Council has not been distributed so that work can begin before the construction season ends.
He said a new law could be used as it was for significant flooding in Acworth for the state to do some of the work and be reimbursed later by using the state’s treasury but there are potential drawbacks if the federal funds do not come through in the anticipated amount.
In addition to the areas in Pittsburg there was significant damage to roads in Dalton, Lancaster and other areas of the North Country which Commissioner of Transportation Bill Cass estimates exceed $9 million for that one storm.
For more information on the Connecticut Lakes Headwater Working Forest and up to date road closures, https://www.nhstateparks.org/find-parks-trails/connecticut-lakes-headwaters-working-forest.
For more information on the NH Fish and Game Department managed Connecticut Lakes Natural Areas road closures, CT Lakes Natural Area’s Access Roads Closed Until Further Notice – NH Fish and Game Department (nhfishgame.com)
