ARCH CAPE – The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will close the Oswald West State Park campground Thursday. Campers in the park’s 30 primitive, walk-in campsites will be offered sites at other nearby state park campgrounds. The day trails and beach will remain open.

The closure is prompted by an review of the trees in and around the campground. Some trees are 200 to 400 years old and have been damaged by past storms or are simply near the end of their natural lives. One such tree – an 11-foot diameter spruce – fell without warning on June 24. No campers were injured, though the tree did fall across several campsites.

OPRD natural resource staff have been reviewing the forested campground area, and made an initial judgment this week that a significant number of other mature trees are in declining health.

“Closing the campground while we study the situation is a responsible precaution,” said John Potter, OPRD assistant director of operations. “We need time to figure out what’s best for the forest and for camper safety.”

The campground closure will be effective until further notice while the agency completes an in-depth study on the health of the trees near the campground. The study will look at both the need to protect the old growth forest and the habitat it provides, and the kinds of recreation the park can support. OPRD plans to assess the situation and develop alternatives for public review.

The 2,474-acre park was opened in 1931 near the border of Tillamook and Clatsop counties. Oswald West State Park is named for Oregon’s 14th governor (1911-1915), who protected the ocean shore for public use. The park hosted more than 15,000 campers and just under a million day visitors in 2007. Campers already in the park will be offered any available space at Fort Stevens, Nehalem Bay and other north coast state park campgrounds. Hiking, surfing and beachcombing are the most popular daytime activities. The campground closure will not affect any trails or access to the beach.