Illia Dunes closed again due to health concerns and visitors’ trash

Illia Dunes on the Snake River was closed Sunday until further notice after hundreds of visitors on Saturday left trash on the beach, broken bottles and beer cans in the water and human waste on the beach. About 1,800 people visited the Dunes on Saturday and caused the damage, a news release from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said. “We had to shut down the Dunes — It’s a visitor-safety issue. Our first objective is to clear the area of dangerous broken glass and debris, and clean up the health risk caused by visitors not using the restrooms,” said Chris Lorz, park ranger at Lower Granite Lock and Dam. “Most visitors were being pretty good about keeping the Dunes nice. Saturday’s crowd actions are really disappointing.” The beach was closed for a short time in August but reopened after tests showed the area was once again safe for in-water recreation, following testing for fecal coliforms. The area was previously closed because of visitor misuse in late August 2012 when about 3,000 visitors left behind thousands of pounds of trash, broken glass, foam coolers and other litter on the beach and along three miles of road ditch. After that, parking was banned on Almota Ferry Road but two other parking lots are available. Lorz said many drivers parked in restricted areas on Saturday. In addition, the Corps added trash bins and bags.