Work to rehabilitate the Kiasutha Campground is underway.

Allegheny National Forest Bradford District Ranger Rich Hatfield told the Council of Governments that work started with demolishing three old restrooms.

The campground was built in the 1960s in the wake of the construction of the Kinzua Dam.

Hatfield said up next is the removal of the boat ramp there.

“It’s in really bad shape,” he said. “It’s been in bad shape for a while.”

That work should occur in the weeks after Christmas given the lower water levels on the Allegheny Reservoir.

Hatfield said the third piece in the first phase is building a permanent vault toilet at the boat launch in the spring.

Other phases will include renovations to the restroom and shower building.

“We’re a year out from that,” he said. “Next fall (we) could see some renovation in the restrooms. Slowly but surely things move forward.”

TIMBER MARKET IMPROVING?

Hatfield said three timber sales were held between October and December.

“The narrative from the last 12 months was ‘no bid,'” he said. “These are not things that we like.”

He said there were more “no bid” sales in the last year than in his first eight years working on the ANF.

“It seems like we kind of turned the corner,” Hatfield said. “The market has probably changed. That’s good news.”