ESCALANTE – The Dixie National Forest has issued a permit to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to begin rip rap repair on the Pine Lake Dam in the Escalante Ranger District, which was to being Oct. 10.

During the approximately 30-day (weather dependent) repair one popular road across the dam will be closed temporarily.

“This repair is necessary to fix old and inadequate existing rip rap,” said Terry DeLay, Escalante District Ranger.  “We appreciate the patience of forest visitors while the repair is completed.”

The existing rip rap is old and inadequate and is causing benching along the upstream face of the dam.  The project will remove the old rip rap and the dam will be graded.  New rip rap will be created from a combination of imported and salvaged material.  Ruts at the crest of the dam will be repaired and the road will be graded.

During the repair, the road across the dam will be closed.  No dispersed camping will be allowed adjacent to the dam.

Visitors wishing to access the South Pine Lake, Henderson Canyon Trailhead, and Burro Trailhead will need to use Forest Service Road 131 (from John’s Valley Road).

Maps of the area can be obtained from local Forest Service offices in Escalante or Panguitch.