The USDA Forest Service is accepting public comments on a proposal to close Morrison Run Road to camping from the Forest Service boundary just south of U.S. Route 6 to the Forest Service property line approximately 1 mile south along Forest Road 156.

Public comments are also being accepted on a proposal to gate the road into the old Westline Ballfield area of State Route 3006 and close one unofficial campsite within this area.

The first mile of the Morrison Run road has a narrow strip of land that does not provide adequate parking to get vehicles safely off the road or the buffering of user impacts to the stream. Campers frequently leave trash and human waste on site, negatively impacting water quality in Morrison Run and the nearby Allegheny Wild and Scenic River. Trampling of vegetation results in compaction of the soil and erosion into Morrison Run, also affecting the stream’s water quality. Prohibiting camping in this area will protect water quality, the soil, and vegetation in and along Morrison Run while enhancing opportunities for day use along the road.

Westline Ballfield is approximately 0.7 miles east of the Town of Westline along Kinzua Creek. The open field is often wet and rutted from vehicles “mudding” through the pooling water, damaging vegetation and soil structure. This field will be gated to vehicle traffic.

In addition, an informal campsite is within 50 feet of Kinzua Creek at a popular swimming hole, which creates impacts to the water quality of the stream from trash and waste left behind. It also creates conflict between swimmers in the creek and campers at this site. Gating the access road and removing this campsite will protect the field and remove user conflicts while still allowing walk-in use of the area.

The comment period will begin when a legal notice is published in the Bradford Era newspaper and ends 30 days after publication.