Planning that Memorial Day weekend trip to Bullfrog and surrounding areas on Lake Powell? Better call ahead.
Officials announced this week that camping reservations will now be required for the Upper Bullfrog Bay, both north and south beaches, and the Stanton Creek recreation areas during the holiday, May 23-28.Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Superintendent Joseph F. Alston made the announcement, citing concerns for public health and spiraling costs to maintain the popular site after the masses leave each spring.
"Hosting hundreds of individuals whose primary objective is to come to Bullfrog and `party' is not an activity for which this area was designed," Alston said. "There is no acceptable justification for spending upward to $100,000 to control this event and to accept the consequences of water-quality degradation."
Last year's beach closures at Lake Powell, which included both Stanton and Upper Bullfrog, were directly attributed to human and pet waste being buried on the shorelines.
National Park Service officials have determined the simple solution to the human-waste problem includes limiting numbers and leaving nothing on the shore or in the waters of Lake Powell.
In addition to requiring reservations during the holiday weekend, the Hobie Cat Beach area will not be open for overflow camping this year.
For additional information and/or reservations, call 520-608-6200.