Ganarska Forest Central Ontario will remain closed until September 30 at the earliest in the wake of devastating thunderstorms in May.
on Thursday, Ganarska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA) announced that public access to 4,452 hectares of forest (11,000 acres) would be extended until at least 30 September, a decision officials said was “not made lightly” and is based on a number of factors.
There’s a lot in the woods Northumberland County Peterborough County, along with the City of Kawartha Lakes and sections of the Durham area.
May 21 perfect storm Many large trees were felled, blocking many trails and creating areas both impassable and unsafe for recreational activities throughout the forest, GRCA reports.
Durham Regional Police reported on 21 May that a Clarington man had been found “suffering from significant trauma” in the woods. The person was declared brought dead at the scene.
“GRCA knows how much Ganaraska Forest means to the local community and recreational users who come from Ontario and out of the province,” Linda Laliberte, GRCA’s Chief Administrative Office and Secretary-Treasurer, said in a statement.
“GRCA is committed to reopening the recreational trails in Ganarsaka Forest for recreational use. Everyone’s continued cooperation, understanding and patience is appreciated.”
Many roads in Ganarasaka forest are impassable and unsafe.
Ganarska Conservation Authority / Facebook
Factors for extended closure include:
- The extent and location of more than 250 hectares (600 acres) of tree trunks are affecting the main trail access points and systems within West Forest next to Boundary and Porter Roads and the central forest trailhead located at the Ganarska Forest Center.
- Staff continue to clear the trails but a “significant amount” of the approximately 600 kilometers of trails still need to be addressed. The GRCA says the ability to open some trail sections while others remain closed is not possible, given the various recovery operations taking place throughout the forest.
- Beginning in mid-July and continuing through the fall, there will be several logging operations (defend and annual harvest) throughout the West and Central Forests. The number of operations is higher than usual, and some will be working along the trails to support the recovery.
- The Eastern Forest will remain closed, even though it was not as severely affected by the storm, but the forest does not have the capacity or parking areas to support an abundance of recreational activities.
The Conservation Authority states that Ganarska Forest membership will be increased as follows:
- Subscriptions (excluding cross-country ski memberships) purchased between June 1, 2021 and May 21, 2022 will receive an extension of 12 months from the original membership expiration date.
- Ganarska One cross-country ski memberships that expired during closure (between May 21, 2022, the date of reopening) will be granted a six-month hiking membership.
you can visit GRCA web page And Ganarska Conservancy Facebook Page for update.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.