BATTLE MOUNTIN — The Bureau of Land Management, Battle Mountain District, is happy to announce that the Mill Creek Campground, located roughly 25 miles south of Battle Mountain, has been reopened to the public. On June 28, 2017 a fire was started at the campground that burned 479 acres and consumed the entire site. Due to the safety concerns associated with the campground structures, unstable stream banks and large hanging tress, the BLM issued a temporary closure of the area while work was being conducted to make it safe for use again.
“The Mill Creek Campground is a popular site that receives heavy use by both the Battle Mountain and Austin communities and, while it has been reopened to the public, the BLM will be working to revitalize the area over the next several years with the goal of creating an area even more enjoyable than before,” said Mount Lewis Field Manager Jon Sherve.
Some of the BLM’s first steps will include replacing signage, facilities such as toilets and picnic tables and revegetation of the creek banks to prevent further erosion. An environmental review of the present resources will also be conducted in the near future to determine what other campground enhancement projects would be feasible.
The Battle Mountain District is currently considering development of a 1.5 mile interpretive walking trail, installation of horseshoe pits, construction of new bridges, expansion of the campground by roughly 60 acres, ponding in the creek to allow for fishing and a connection route linking the Mill Creek Campground to the nearby Shoshone OHV Trail System.
“We are developing an ambitious enhancement plan for the campground,” added Sherve. “The destruction caused by the fire was unfortunate but we now have an opportunity to improve on what was there, upgrade facilities and enhance the recreation experience by adding new features.”
