Forest Service assessment and access plan for Mulberry

[Mike Gardner]

Just heard from folks at Turner Bend, that the FS is proposing 2 new access points on the Mulberry
1st access ( FS preferred) Big Eddy. Tables, rest room etc.. Pave road from 23, close camping
2nd access -Across from bridge at the FS food plot. Tables, rest room etc..
There is a 30 day public comment period to the Forest Service but so far hearsay as to when the clock starts

[DeBo]

You can read the proposed plan at: http://www.fs.fed.us/oonf/ozark/project ... oject.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The 30 day comment period begins from the point at which the notice appears in the Southwest Times Record. Whenever that was or is?

[debmoore]

Happy for the Mulberry, BUT....sure wish they would make some "improvements" on Big Piney Creek. There have been no accesses added since in 30+ years. And the put-in/take-out at Long Pool, please...I know many of you have had to carry those heavy-___ rafts up to the parking lot. The road to Phillip's Ford in unaccessable in a 2-wheel drive vehicle. Just sayin...

[A Savage spanke]

I agree with Deb, plus the Mulberry already has about a million free places to put in

[waterhog]

ya seems to be more atten to the mullberry it may have easy access but the rapids on the piney are just bigger and way more exciting plus the great wilderness type feel you get on the piney because there is no road right beside the river

[Fish]

Agreed - the Piney is much more in need of some access improvements. Is it even in the same district though? Probably not, and the budgets are not the same?

[GN YAKN]

One thing to note is that the Boston Mountain ranger district covers the Mulberry from the Turner Bend bridge and then downstream. The area upstream and the Piney is under a different ranger district. I think it's the Pleasant Hill district.

So improvements on the Piney for access would need to originate out of the Pleasant Hill ranger district. Light a fire under them if needed but don't dampen our enthusiams over here. There is a definite need for an access near Turner Bend to take some of the pressure off of Brad.

[panicman]

the weak access on the piney is probably one of the main reasons I have not floated it in a decade.

[A Savage spanke]

Access near turner bend? What about Bryds cabin, I mean its a half mile down river. I don't think that really justifies making a new access point, but then again I don't mind that extra half mile.

And don't you think more access points on piney are going to lessen that wilderness feel? I totally agree that its a better run, but I'm confused on what phillips ford is. The only put in options I'm aware of are up by Fort Douglas for a long float, heltons farm, indian creek, or long pool. Where is Phillips ford?

[hfunkhouser]

I really like the primitive camping. Better if you avoid deer season and can hold your own with the crazies. Paved roads and bathrooms mean it will be as crowded as redding and TB. Just wish they would expand redding.
On to the ford, I guess. I agree with the piney ideas.
My 2 cents

[debmoore]

I want to nip in the bud any negativity about anything I have said. Brad W. & family, and Barbara, Zen, Pam, are friends of ours. I am NOT complaining at all that there will be more of anything on the Mulberry. I would never want to see anything that would take the remoteness away from Piney, the creek that I love and have lived with for almost 3 decades. But, I would like to see an improved take-out at Long Pool...so you can drive closer to load boats. I would like to see some gravel hauled in on FS road #14, or Treat road. In the last 2 weeks they did grade and cleaned out the ditches, we appreciate that, and it's in better shape than it's been in for months or year+. I have stated many times I wouldn't want to see it paved, there is already some crazy driving going on at times.:) Savage...Phillip's Ford is 3 miles above Helton's. You get to it by going up Pilot Rock rd...go across both the Twin Bridges on 164, hit the 1st dirt rd. to the right, follow it until you come to the "Y" and take the right, or straight ahead.

[Donna]

Come on, folks. This is about the Mulberry, not Big Piney. I'm not saying your comments are wrong.... just not on the correct thread. I wonder if everyone who commented here has read the plan on the link posted by Debo. (Thanks for the convenience, Debo.) This is not just about access points, which I personally think another one at Turner Bend would come in handy, but it is also about watershed improvement, bank stabilization, and illegal trail and river crossings. I rather think supporting comments would be in good order.

[Dave Thomas]

After much thought and consideration, I have changed my vote to the Proposed Recreation Actions at the small game area. I am glad that I posted my opinion and got feedback before actually calling the Forest Service. There is much to learn from members of the forum. Mike, I appreciate you starting this thread and letting folks know to contact the Forest Service with their thoughts and opinions concerning access points on the Mulberry River.

[A Savage spanke]

Dave, we all drove down to the water at big eddy last sunday. And when I say all, I mean 18 people, by far the biggest group I've ever seen floating the lower. I love the remote camping that covers that entire dirt road. If you want a put in, take any left off of that road, and it will take you to the water. I would hate to see that become like redding, then we would even have over flow on better spots surrounding big eddy. Didn't they just put in a new indian creek or herrods creek (something like that) put in this last year?

[hfunkhouser]

X2!!!
Pointless, maybe even misplaced post. Ibapologize for that BUT My family and our cohort will miss the options that only big Eddie gives us to fish, camp, get stuck in the mud, and basically jam out without having to worry about quiet hours, payment, and all the other orderly organization that comes with developed camping.
In regard to conservation, this is the last place for us antisocials to hang out without getting pushed further downstream and tearing up more riparian and otherwise natural areas.
I will miss it how it is.