Thread: Lake Somerville Complaint

I camped at the Birch Creek Unit at Lake Somerville on the July 3/4th weekend. I enjoyed it, but there were several aspects that annoyed or disturmbed me.

1. It was posted as under a Burn Ban. I saw several open fires at night. Not charcoal grilling fires, but campfires or bonfires.

2. There was a fireworks ban (duh!), but you still heard fireworks going off in the park.

3. One group partied all night, with loud music and laughter, and another group partied until early morning. What happened to the curfew that they are supposed to have?

4. It seems to be the "in" thing to allow kids and families to ride in boats being pulled behind cars and trucks when they leave the boat ramp area and return to their campsites. This is a very dangerous practice, and probably illegal. It would not be that hard to enforce, since you can see the people in the boats as they drive on the roadways in the park.

I realize that these are things that people are doing against the rules, but it would not be that hard for Rangers to see the campfires, hear the fireworks, or police the boats leaving the boat ramps for safer practices. And the all-night partying was inexcusable. Any Ranger coming within range would hear that there was way too much noise late at night for a family area.

Originally Posted by Retro51

I camped at the Birch Creek Unit at Lake Somerville on the July 3/4th weekend. I enjoyed it, but there were several aspects that annoyed or disturbed me.

1. It was posted as under a Burn Ban. I saw several open fires at night. Not charcoal grilling fires, but campfires or bonfires.

2. There was a fireworks ban (duh!), but you still heard fireworks going off in the park.

3. One group partied all night, with loud music and laughter, and another group partied until early morning. What happened to the curfew that they are supposed to have?

4. It seems to be the "in" thing to allow kids and families to ride in boats being pulled behind cars and trucks when they leave the boat ramp area and return to their campsites. This is a very dangerous practice, and probably illegal. It would not be that hard to enforce, since you can see the people in the boats as they drive on the roadways in the park.

I realize that these are things that people are doing against the rules, but it would not be that hard for Rangers to see the campfires, hear the fireworks, or police the boats leaving the boat ramps for safer practices. And the all-night partying was inexcusable. Any Ranger coming within range would hear that there was way too much noise late at night for a family area.

I have to ask...did you complain? Either to the Rangers or the Park host? Thats what they are there for. They get paid to be there. If we don't start complaining things will never get better. More and more people are starting to comment on the loud parting in the state parks. If the rangers/ park host don't know they cant stop them. As soon as we check into a park I get the phone numbers. If I see something wrong, I report it.

The private parks just don't put up with it. You will be asked to leave. period.