Bubbling Springs Remains Open, Amenities Removed

HOT SPRINGS — The USDA Forest Service will be removing the amenities at the Bubbling Springs Day Use Area in Bath County by September 2019. 
The area will still be available to visitors to visit the springs or disperse camp. 
To protect public health and safety, the forest service will remove the damaged vault toilet, all four picnic tables and the grills. The vault toilet has not been functional and has been closed since approximately 2015. 
The picnic tables and grills are rusted and are unusable. Signs at the site will also be removed. 
Once the amenities are removed the site will return to its natural wooded state. 
Parking will remain available for visitors wishing to visit the spring or disperse camp in the area. 
Dispersed camping is free and is permitted throughout the national forest except in specially designated areas. 
“By decommissioning this site, the forest service will be able to focus limited resources on maintaining and improving key recreation sites,” said District Ranger Elizabeth McNichols. “The changes at this site are one of the many options we have considered to better meet public desires and improve the quality of recreation experiences on the National Forest.” 
Bubbling Springs is a spring where water emerges from the ground making a pleasant bubbling sound. The area is traditionally used by campers for dispersed camping and visitors coming to see the spring. the Rich Hole Wilderness is nearby. 
The site does not have access to hiking trails.
The forest is working toward planning a sustainable recreation program that aligns with how visitors use the forest, protects natural and cultural resources, and uses financial resources responsibly. 
“In order to achieve sustainability, we are going to invest in key sites; this may mean closing, decommissioning, re-purposing, reducing services or sharing management responsibility with partners at other sites,”?McNichols added. “Please share your input to help shape these long-term changes that will lead to a sustainable recreation program.
The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests connect people to a diversity of outdoor recreational opportunities through 2,160 miles of trails, 200 developed recreation areas and vast hunting, fishing, camping and educational experiences, attracting nearly 2.2 million visitors annually.
For more information, please contact the James River and Warm Springs Ranger District Offices at (540) 839-2521.