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Progress Being Made In Opening National Parks Closed By Hurricanes

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By NPT Staff - October 10th, 2017

Cleanup continues in national parks impacted by Hurricane Irma/NPS

More than a month after Hurricane Irma pummeled South Florida and Georgia, visitor access to national parks there is slowly continuing to expand.

The National Park Service on Tuesday provided the following update: 

South Florida Parks

Big Cypress National Preserve – PARTIALLY OPEN

  • Big Cypress National Preserve’s Oasis Visitor Center is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
  • Midway, Monument, and Burns Lake campgrounds are open.
  • The Swamp Welcome Center remains closed at this time. Repairs are underway.
  • The Stairsteps Unit of Big Cypress National Preserve remains closed to all recreational access, including hunting, until water levels go down. Other backcountry areas are open.
  • Visitors to the preserve should expect conditions to include high water levels, downed trees, and ongoing restoration efforts. Recreational users should be prepared to turn around.
  • Landowners may continue to access private property and should expect downed trees along trails.
  • The Loop Road is closed. 

Everglades National Park – PARTIALLY OPEN

  • The Homestead visitor entrance is open to Flamingo. There are no facilities available at this time. Portable rest rooms are available. Boats may now be launched at the Flamingo ramps. Night closures will remain in place. The roadway is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nighttime closure is at West Lake. Gas and food services are not available.
  • Utility crews continue to stabilize water treatment facilities in Flamingo.
  • Construction crews continue to stabilize facilities in Flamingo. 
  • Saw crews are removing damaged limbs and trees from Flamingo campground.
  • Large park signs along the main road are being reinstalled.
  • Park boat operators continue marking underwater debris navigation hazards and displaced vessels in park waters.
  • Shark Valley remains closed due to high water and the area will be monitored for future mitigations if needed to protect infrastructure. This is the highest water the park has seen in 86 years.
  • Gulf Coast facilities remain closed until further notice.

Interior spaces also are needing cleanup and restoration/NPS

Atlantic Coast National Parks 

Cumberland Island National Seashore (Ga.) – PARTIALLY OPEN (Museum only)

  • The Cumberland Island Mainland Museum is open. The visitor center is closed.
  • Arborist crews have completed their work and are moving to Fort Matanzas.
  • Camping reservations are cancelled through November 1.
  • The managed hunt that was scheduled for October 28-29 is cancelled.

Fort Matanzas National Monument (Fla.) – PARTIALLY OPEN                          

  • The visitor center area remains closed pending removal of hazard limbs and trees.
  • Beach and Island areas of the park are open to the public.  
  • The fort will remain inaccessible to the public until repairs to dock and ferry boats can be completed.

Fort Pulaski National Monument (Ga.) – OPEN

  • The Visitor Center and Museum are currently open.
  • The park’s water system is not operating in the historic area of the park. Water is not available in and around Fort Pulaski and the visitor center comfort station is closed. Portable restrooms are available.

 

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