Commissioners to review Upper Yankee Boy Basin access after safety concerns; favor non‑motorized management option

Summary

Following resident requests and staff observations that the upper portion of the Yankee Boy Basin road is severely degraded and creates safety risks, commissioners asked for a work session with the Forest Service, search‑and‑rescue and trails stakeholders to explore restricting the upper segment to non‑motorized access rather than full closure.

Commissioners asked staff to schedule a work session to consider restricting motorized access on the uppermost segment of the Yankee Boy Basin access road, after a resident raised safety concerns and provided GPS points and photos.

Why it matters: the upper road segment is in poor condition, commissioners said, producing vehicle incidents and stranding problems for emergency responders. Commissioners and staff discussed options ranging from a time‑limited emergency closure to a designation that allows only human‑powered access (hiking, biking) on that upper stretch. Board members emphasized messaging care: calling a measure a ‘‘closure’’ may create unnecessary public alarm; they preferred descriptive language (e.g., managed access or non‑motorized designation) and recommended involving the Forest Service, search‑and‑rescue, trails organizations, and user groups in the review.

No formal access restriction was adopted. Staff were instructed to assemble a package with legal and operational options, maps, stakeholder lists and suggested outreach steps for a public work session.