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Rehab RV Sanitary Dump Station Facility and Provide Horse Trailer Parking
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve » Rehab RV Sanitary Dump Station Facility and Provide Horse Trailer Parking » Document List
The National Park Service is considering constructing an unpaved horse trailer parking lot and installing a recreational vehicle (RV) dump station near the Piñon Flats campground at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.
Purposes of taking action:
• the existing RV sanitary dump station, septic tank and drainfield was constructed in 1984 and was not designed for the demands placed on it today. Visitation of the park has more than doubled since the original design and self contained large RV's are much more prevalent.
• The existing onsite wastewater treatment system is too small for the flows coming as a result of increased visitation. The septic tanks require pumping twice as often as other systems and are ineffective for primary treatment.
• The drain field for this system is located near the primary well for the campground water supply. The US Public Health Service has expressed concern over this location, especially during dry weather periods, and has recommended that the septic system and drain field be re-located.
• The previously existing dump station and horse trailer parking are located in a parking lot used for visitor parking and programs at the park's amphitheater. The enclosure for the park's solid waste collection roll-off dumpster is also located next to the former dump station. This solid waste collection area is used by campers from the campground and by park staff. This configuration results in a very congested area with visitors attempting to reach the dump station pulling trailers and driving motor homes, visitors attempting to access the solid waste collection enclosure, backcountry user vehicles parked for several days at a time, horse trailer parking, and visitors trying to park to attend interpretive programs at the amphitheater. Each season there are many close calls between vehicles and pedestrians and several arguments between visitors trying to park, visitors trying to get out of the parking area and those trying to access the dump station. During heavily attended interpretive programs and concerts held during the summer months, parking becomes so congested that access to the dump station and solid waste collection facility is completely cut-off.
• The current dump station location has re-occurring problems with the line to the septic tank and with the septic tank configuration. The slope of the existing line is not steep enough, according to experts from local companies, resulting in line obstruction problems. The line becomes clogged 3 to 4 times per summer often requiring the assistance of a commercial sewer line cleaning company using specialized equipment that is not available to the park staff. This usually happens on busy weekends, and results in unsanitary conditions and odors.
• In addition to vehicular congestion, visitors with horses express safety concerns when loading and unloading their horses due to high traffic levels, slippery paved surfaces underfoot, and the confusion generated by too many different activities taking place while horses are present.
Fred Bunch, Resource Management Specialist, fred_bunch@nps.gov, 719/378-6361
Purposes of taking action:
• the existing RV sanitary dump station, septic tank and drainfield was constructed in 1984 and was not designed for the demands placed on it today. Visitation of the park has more than doubled since the original design and self contained large RV's are much more prevalent.
• The existing onsite wastewater treatment system is too small for the flows coming as a result of increased visitation. The septic tanks require pumping twice as often as other systems and are ineffective for primary treatment.
• The drain field for this system is located near the primary well for the campground water supply. The US Public Health Service has expressed concern over this location, especially during dry weather periods, and has recommended that the septic system and drain field be re-located.
• The previously existing dump station and horse trailer parking are located in a parking lot used for visitor parking and programs at the park's amphitheater. The enclosure for the park's solid waste collection roll-off dumpster is also located next to the former dump station. This solid waste collection area is used by campers from the campground and by park staff. This configuration results in a very congested area with visitors attempting to reach the dump station pulling trailers and driving motor homes, visitors attempting to access the solid waste collection enclosure, backcountry user vehicles parked for several days at a time, horse trailer parking, and visitors trying to park to attend interpretive programs at the amphitheater. Each season there are many close calls between vehicles and pedestrians and several arguments between visitors trying to park, visitors trying to get out of the parking area and those trying to access the dump station. During heavily attended interpretive programs and concerts held during the summer months, parking becomes so congested that access to the dump station and solid waste collection facility is completely cut-off.
• The current dump station location has re-occurring problems with the line to the septic tank and with the septic tank configuration. The slope of the existing line is not steep enough, according to experts from local companies, resulting in line obstruction problems. The line becomes clogged 3 to 4 times per summer often requiring the assistance of a commercial sewer line cleaning company using specialized equipment that is not available to the park staff. This usually happens on busy weekends, and results in unsanitary conditions and odors.
• In addition to vehicular congestion, visitors with horses express safety concerns when loading and unloading their horses due to high traffic levels, slippery paved surfaces underfoot, and the confusion generated by too many different activities taking place while horses are present.
Contact Information
Project Contacts: Facility Manager Mark Seaton, mark_seaton@nps.gov, 719-378-6331Fred Bunch, Resource Management Specialist, fred_bunch@nps.gov, 719/378-6361