Comments sought on proposed Kofa refuge bypass road

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comment through June 8 on a draft environmental assessment report for a proposed unpaved bypass road on Castle Dome Road in Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.

The recommended route for the road would allow high-clearance, two-wheel drive vehicles to reach the McPherson Pass area inside the refuge without crossing the Castle Dome Mining Museum property, the site of a reconstructed mining town, the report says.

When Castle Dome Road is closed, the only other access road into the refuge is several miles to the north and requires a 4-wheel drive high-clearance vehicle, because it goes over the top of McPherson Pass. The round-trip length from Yuma is five hours, versus two hours with the Castle Dome entrance.

The report assesses the environmental disruption to be expected from the recommended 4.5-mile recommended road path, plus two alternative routes.

The 33-page draft report is available at www.fws. gov/refuge/kofa, or copies can be picked up at the refuge headquarters.

Comments can be submitted by email to: Kofa_ road_EA_ comments@ fws.gov, or mailed to Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, Attn: Bypass Road EA, 9300 E 28th St., Yuma, AZ 85365.

Museum owner Allen Armstrong closed the piece of the road on his property in March 2018, saying the through traffic was interfering with tours of the museum and nearby Hull Mine.

He had offered to pay for a bypass road through the refuge, but complained refuge officials were dragging their feet on the environmental assessment and other processes that need to happen first.

This fall, he and the refuge reached an agreement that he would open the road over his land for the winter tourism season, and a bypass road would be completed before the following season.

Yuma Sun staff writer Blake Herzog can be reached at 928-539-6856 or bherzog@yumasun.com.