The San Juan National Forest has asked for public comments on a draft plan called a Recreation Site Analysis. It calls for the removal or degradation of recreation facilities across the forest as a way to cut costs. The list of 129 sites includes many that are not actually operated by the forest because they have been leased to concessionaires for private for-profit operation. Several other sites are not even on Forest Service land but on private property or state land. And some so-called developed sites consist of nothing more than a roadside sign or a spot to park while hiking on a trail.

Once you strip out sites like that, what you are left with is a plan for removing toilets. At least 13 toilets are being considered for removal, including at such popular sites as the Junction Creek, West Fork, and Upper Hermosa trailheads, the summit of Coal Bank Pass, and Little Molas Lake dispersed camping area. Others, like the ones at Bear Creek trailhead and Andrews Lake, are proposed for less-frequent cleaning. Nearly all of the toilets slated to be retained would only be kept if volunteers or other partners can be recruited to take care of them. This reflects a national policy known internally as “no partner, no potty,” which the San Juan seems to be embracing wholeheartedly. Fewer toilets, cleaned less often, dependent on volunteer citizens for their continued existence, to serve the same or a growing number of visitors. What could go wrong?

The Forest Service’s motto is “Caring for the land and serving people.” I can’t think of a single type of developed facility that better accomplishes both goals than the provision of a well-maintained sanitary facility in a location that sees heavy visitation. Protecting our public land from the resource damage that happens when such facilities are not available is the bare minimum we should be able to expect, and should receive priority when difficult funding decisions are being made. The Recreation Site Analysis is available at the SJNF web site. The comment period is open until March 21.

Kitty Benzar

Durango