Abstract
The purpose of this project is to explore and document the causes and possible remedies of restoring a heavily degraded campsite and adjacent stream. The campsite and stream in question are Millionaire Camp Site and Big Silver Creek, located within the El Dorado National Forest, Pacific Ranger District, Crystal Basin Recreation Area. The project is separated into three parts, stream health, restoration techniques and management issues. The campsite suffers from a degraded state primarily from depreciative visitor behavior as well as intensive use by forest visitors. The poor behavior includes damaging natural resources, vandalism, criminal activity and illegal off-highway vehicle use. Natural resource concerns of Big Silver Creek include lack of riparian vegetation , introduction of excessive soil, trash and human waste. The project will provide a justification for initiating an ecological restoration project that addresses the concerns related to the health of the local ecosystem at Millionaire Camp Site and Big Silver Creek. In addition, management issues will be explored, including examining the responsible agency, U.S. Forest Service, role in ensuring continued healing of the site vi after restoration. The project will suggest a possible course the U.S. Forest Service can take to ensure forest visitors will be properly educated regarding forest rules, regulations and proper outdoor recreational ethics. This can be accomplished by providing educational material via new technology such as Youtube and podcasts. Specifically, the project will address the riparian component of Big Silver Creek and rehabilitating degraded recreational resources of Millionaire Camp Site. The streamside vegetation, or riparian area, of Big Silver Creek suffers from intensive visitor use resulting in a loss of riparian vegetation. The benefits riparian vegetation provides the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem of Big Silver Creek include regulating water temperatures, introduction of organic material into the water, cover for aquatic and terrestrial animals, prevention of excessive soil entering the stream and aesthetics. In addition, the project will focus on the benefits a healthy ecosystem will provide for recreational opportunities including popular nature-based activities such as bird watching and fishing. The project will address issues and concerns related to restoring Millionaire Camp Site including compacted soil and reestablishing vegetation at the campsite to reduce erosion. Sources of Data Several sources were used in writing this project. A review of existing literature on ecological restoration, contributed to the development of this project as well as personal communication with specialists knowledgeable in the discipline of ecological vii restoration. Specialists were from both government agencies as well as the private sector. In addition, field visits were conducted with specialists to discuss the issues related to Millionaire Camp Site and Big Silver Creek. Conclusions Reached The project contains information on ecological restoration that can be used as a justification for initiating ecological restoration projects on highly degraded sites. There is an information gap in regards to restoring degraded, non-wilderness campsites. Much of the literature reviewed emphasizes wilderness campsite restoration. This project will expose land managers to lower elevation campsite restoration and the unique management challenges campsites such as Millionaire Camp Site pose. After a successful restoration and aggressive visitor management from the U.S. Forest Service, new, nature based recreational opportunities will occur that will have less impact on the forest.