Recreation areas, trails near Lake Monroe closed due to storm damage

Tuesday's storms that left a huge section of Monroe County without electricity and with downed trees and power lines affected areas near Lake Monroe, which may interfere with weekend and July Fourth holiday plans.

Paynetown and Fairfax state recreation areas

Paynetown and Fairfax state recreation areas at Lake Monroe are currently closed with only restricted access, according to Jill Vance, interpretive naturalist. On Thursday, there was no electricity at any of the state properties at the lake. Power may not be restored until next week.

At Paynetown, visitors will be allowed to enter the property only to launch at the boat ramp, rent a boat from Lake Monroe Boat Rental, access a boat docked at the marina or retrieve personal property from a campsite. Vance said no one will be allowed to use the beach or any other part of the area while there.

"The big thing is we have a lot of tree damage," she said Thursday afternoon, adding that there are hundreds of broken branches called "widow makers" dropping from trees, causing problems for workers clearing the debris. "We don't want people coming into those areas that don't have a good reason to be there."

Vance hopes the campground will be able to reopen Tuesday, July 2. People with reservations will be contacted by the reservation system with more information. Before that happens, Vance said DNR staff are cutting downed trees and moving debris to huge piles.

Paynetown facilities including the beach, beach house, marina gas sales, modern restrooms, comfort stations, activity center and hiking trails may be closed for a longer time.

"It's a disaster zone on the trails right now," Vance said. With the priority to reopen Paynetown campgrounds, clearing trails will take longer.

The Fairfax recreation area didn't have as much storm damage. The property is open for use by boaters and picnickers, but the beach, beach house and trails are closed.

While all eight DNR boat ramps remain open there is no fuel available on the lake, so boaters must purchase fuel elsewhere. Anyone who has a boat at a private marina should contact that marina. Anyone who has a boat rental reservation for Thursday, June 27, through Sunday, June 30, should contact the rental company.

People who have a reservation at the Fourwinds Lakeside Inn should contact them as well.

Vance said anyone visiting Lake Monroe needs to be aware of downed trees, debris and the possibility of falling branches. She cautions boaters to be aware there will be more debris floating and submerged in the lake.

People with questions can call the DNR office at 812-837-9546 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Hoosier National Forest and Hardin Ridge Recreation Area

On Thursday, crews were still out on Hoosier National Forest land near the lake assessing damage, spokesman Marion Mason said. All Forest Service sites and roads are open, but visitors should expect to encounter fallen trees on trails for several weeks. Mason cautioned that people visiting the national forest be aware that trees and limbs may continue to fall.

BA Services, which manages the Hardin Ridge Recreation Area on the south side of the lake, is assessing campsites. They will notify anyone with reservations "very soon," Mason said, if cancellations are necessary.

While the Lake Monroe area is a popular destination, Mason said there are other trails and recreation areas in the Hoosier National Forest farther south that are open and had no storm damage. To find out more about those areas, go online to www.fs.usda.gove/Hoosier. For more information, call the Bedford office at 812-275-5987.

Amy Weingartner Branigin Peninsula Preserve

Sycamore Land Trust announced Wednesday the Amy Weingartner Branigin Peninsula Preserve along the north shore of Lake Monroe is temporarily closed. The preserve had significant storm damage, with downed trees and debris that made the trail unsafe for hiking. For updates, go to the Sycamore Land Trust website at https://sycamorelandtrust.org.

John Lawrence, executive director, said he doesn't expect the preserve to open before July 4. The connector trail leading to the peninsula is blocked by fallen trees and the old road farther along the trail has multiple trees down.

The land trust's Porter West property also was hit by the storm, Lawrence said. Although that property remains open, anyone hiking the trails should be aware of downed trees and the possibility of falling branches.