Access improves at Lighting Creek

CLARK FORK — Access restrictions are easing in the southern portion of the flood-stricken Lightning Creek drainage.

The U.S. Forest Service announced that full-sized vehicle access now extends to milepost 7.5, ending at the crossing of East Fork Creek. The Forest Service negotiated with a landowner to allow access around the flood-damaged road at milepost 5, said Sandpoint District Ranger Dick Kramer.

The agency is reminding forest visitors that the private land is posted along the route and is asking the public to respect private property rights along those sections.

"The opening of the southern section of the Lightning Creek road will allow the public to access popular huckleberry and hunting areas," Kramer said. "Please keep in mind that the other closures in the drainage will remain in place."

The Forest Service was forced to close approximately 37 miles of road in the drainage following record-breaking flooding in the fall of 2006 because of safety concerns. A plan is pending to reopen all but about 11 miles of the damaged road network.

A new closure order, which went into effect on Aug. 2, prohibits using any type of motorized vehicle wider than 50 inches. The revised order pertains to the following roads:

• Lightning Creek Road No. 419 — From the East Fork crossing to just below the junction with Char Falls Road No. 2758 (11 miles)

• Auxor Basin Road No. 489 (Wellington Creek) — From its intersection with No. 419 to its junction with trail Nos. 444 and 120 (8.6 miles)

• Auxor Mine Road No. 2240 — Starting at Road No. 489 (0.8 miles)

• East Creek Road No. 1184 — From No. 419 to its end (2 miles)

• Porcupine Creek Road No. 642 — From No. 419 to its end (6 miles)

• Mud Creek Road No. 340 — From 419 (0.4 miles)

Six miles of Char Creek Road No. 1030 will be open to motorized vehicles less than 50 inches wide from November 15 to April 1.

The updated closure order also prohibits any type of motorized vehicles except for snowmobiles operating on snow on Rattle Creek Road No. 473, from its junction with No. 419 to its intersection with Clatter Creek, a distance of about 6.8 miles.

• For more information, contact the Sandpoint Ranger District at 263-5111.