| durhamregion.com | This Week | Thursday, July 21, 2022 | 26 While cleanup efforts continue at the Ganaraska Forest following the destructive May long-week- end windstorm that ripped through Northumberland, officials have now confirmed it will still be months before the forest can reopen due to widespread damage. The Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA) recently confirmed the forest will remain closed until Sept. 30, 2022, saying there is still a significant amount of work to do before the forest can reopen safely for users. The closure was first put in place after the May 21, 2022 storm tore through the 11,000-acre forest, downing trees, power lines and more in the area. As crews continue to work on clearing trails, new blowdown areas were still being discovered in July in the central forest area. Earlier, GRCA had to arrange getting aerial footage to get a closer look at damages and identify blowdown areas. "The GRCA knows how much the Ganaraska Forest means to the local community and recreational users that come from across Ontario and out of province," said Linda Laliberte, the GRCA's chief administrative officer and secretary-treasurer. "The GRCA is committed to reopening recreational trails in the Ganaraska Forest to recreational use. "Everyone's continued co-operation, understanding and patience is appreciated." After much consideration, the GRCA said it determined the entire forest needs to remain closed -- and stressed this decision wasn't made lightly. "It is important to note that the Ganaraska Forest is unsafe for recreational activities and many trails still are impassable," said officials. The GRCA is continuing to ask the public to respect barriers and signage in place blocking access. When barriers and tape are continually having to be reinstalled, it takes staff time away from clearing the trails, noted the GRCA in a recent social media post, while calling for residents' co-operation with the closure. Earlier GRCA assessments suggested this storm was the largest natural disaster to impact the forest since it was established in 1947. REASONS FOR ONGOING CLOSURE: The extent and locations of more than 250 hectares -- or 600 acres -- of tree blowdown are impacting main trail access points and systems within the west forest next to Boundary Road and Porter Road, as well as the central forest trailhead located at the Ganaraska Forest Centre, said staff. Additionally, isolated blowdown locations are scattered throughout the west and central forests -- again, impacting various trail systems. Through mid-July and into the fall, multiple logging operations (both salvage and annual harvest) will be occurring throughout the west and central forests. The number of operations occurring is more than normal and some will be operating along trails to support recovery. As is normal practice, trails within and near to logging operations are closed or restricted to recreational uses, staff explained. This will also mean logging trucks travelling roads around the forest. There's still a "significant amount" of about 600 kilometres of trail to address and be cleared, GRCA noted. Many of these trails are impassable and there are hazards along the sides of trails and "overhead hangers remain." Given the various recovery operations taking place, it's not possible to open just certain trail sections while others remain closed, noted staff. While the east forest wasn't as severely impacted, it also doesn't have the capacity or parking areas to "support an abundance of recreational pressure." MEMBERSHIPS: Ganaraska Forest memberships (except for crosscountry ski memberships) purchased between June 1, 2021 and May 21, 2022 will receive a 12-month extension from the original membership expiry date. Cross-country ski memberships that expired during the closure (between May 21 to the reopening date) will be given a six-month hiking membership. Upon expiry, forest memberships will be automatically renewed for a year, and an email notification sent, said staff. Once the forest is opened, a six-month hiking membership will be automatically issued to cross-country ski members and email notification sent. To stay up to date, residents are encouraged to follow www.grca.on.ca or follow Ganaraska Conservation on Facebook. GANARASKA FOREST CLOSED UNTIL SEPT. 30 DUE TO STORM CLEANUP SARAH HYATT shyatt@ nor thumberlandnews.com NEWS WHILE CLEANUP EFFORTS CONTINUE, HUNDREDS OF ACRES, KILOMETRES OF TRAIL STILL IMPACTED BY DAMAGES, TREE BLOWDOWN, SAY GRCA Cleanup efforts are continuing at the Ganaraska Forest following the destructive May 21, 2022 windstorm. The forest will remain closed until Sept. 30, 2022, officials have confirmed. GRCA photo