Ask us your questions so we can help people understand, it is very complex.
FAQ: I saw the Forest Service remove trees in the past years why are they not going into Brevoort Lake to remove them right away now?
Answer : Because of a lawsuit Regional District 9 which includes 20 US States changed the interpretation of the contract last year. They informed us that they would not go into the campgrounds for any inspections or tree removal at all. My $2000 hazard tree obligation would not change. We would have to hire someone and they would have to pay for it. I hired someone after they approved the trees I identified in Bay View and Monocle Lake and I paid for it, they could not get the funds to pay me back. I also had an estimate of $58, 250.00 for trees they had approved for removal but did not have the funds to remove in Brevoort Lake. We closed those sites near the end of last year in Brevoort Lake waiting for the funds to remove them. That is when they changed the interpretation again and said when they have "legal control" before they turn the campgrounds over to me, they could do tree inspections and do the tree removal themselves. This saves a lot of money because they have the fire crew who have down time, skills to do it and are willing to remove the trees. But they had given me "legal control" over Brevoort Lake, Carp River and Lake Michigan before they had the workshop and now understand there are more hazard trees in those campgrounds. I am guessing that they are asking the Regional Forester how they are going to get the funds to pay for it or if they can take "legal control" back. Of course this means that we will not be able to make any money until they return them back to my control, but your safety is my most important goal.
FAQ: Will I get my reservation back once the trees are removed or branches trimmed?
Answer: We are waiting for the Forest Service to see what campsites they can open and how they are going to handle reservations. We will do whatever the Forest Service decides.
FAQ: Who manages the forest in the campgrounds?
Answer: The Forest Service is the only one who can make a decision on the trees. They have the legal rights to all the trees. We only have a permit to operate the campgrounds and we must follow strict rules on how we can do that. They have many rules of use that we must do in order to keep our permit.
FAQ: Didn't you know this when you signed the contract?
Answer: Because the Forest Service had done inspections and removed trees before my permit, "past practice" and the first 8 years of my permit, I thought they would continue. This is the last year of my permit and the workshop was the first time they told us we were now responsible to do the type of inspection that will hold up in court, a much more complicated inspection. We need to record every tree, give each tree rating on the grading system, then remove the hazard before we can open the campgrounds. We are working on doing that now but could not complete it before our opening date. We also need them to allow us to remove the trees we have identified. That is why the campgrounds are not "closed" they just are not opened yet.
FAQ: I am a local and I see the Forest Service is in Monocle Lake working on trees right now, can I help haul the trees and help get these campgrounds opened?
Answer: This is one reason why I love our customers!! They want to be a part of the solution to get their campgrounds safe and ready for campers. But right now I do not have "legal control" over Monocle Lake, Bay View, or Soldier Lake. You would have to ask the local district Forest Service if they are accepting volunteer help to get the trees brought up to a safe standard so they can turn "legal control" over to S'more Memories LLC. Thank you for trying to help this unbelieveable situation.