BROWN COUNTY –Brown County State Park will reopen for some day-use activities and services only on Monday, officials announced.
The campgrounds, cabins and Abe Martin Lodge will remain closed through at least Monday, and campers and lodge guests have been notified.
Day use activities available Monday includes such activities as sight-seeing, fishing and picnicking. Abe Martin Lodge remains closed, and the pools, all modern restrooms, and drinking fountains will remain closed. Guests who visit for permitted activities must bring their own drinking water. Vault toilets are available in multiple locations in the park. Gates will be staffed, but no admission will be charged.
The nature center and park office will be open, but restrooms in those buildings will be closed. Some hiking trails will be open, but mountain bike trails and horse trails will remain closed as crews continue to evaluate them for the impact of torrential rain and high winds.
Park staff continue to work closely with DNR’s Division of Engineering, consultants and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to ensure that when the park fully reopens there is safe drinking water and water for all needed uses across the property.
Although the sediment level in Ogle Lake from heavy rainfall over the last week still remains high, a large portable treatment tank has been connected and is pre-filtering sediment from the water before it enters the park’s treatment facility. As this process continues and the park’s 100,000 gallon water storage tank refills, all lines must be charged and flushed. The park must submit two separate water samples for testing to an accredited lab. Both samples, drawn at least 24 hours apart, must meet required drinking water standards before overnight facilities, drinking water fountains, the restaurant and other facilities can reopen.
Closure of overnight facilities beyond Monday night will be evaluated as lake conditions and rainfall are monitored pending water test results, officials said.
