New signs point the way for Hagg Lake`s first responders

June 07--A car slammed into a guardrail at Hagg Lake last summer, injuring the lone occupant and prompting onlookers to call an ambulance.

Washington County parks department rangers were on the scene when they heard the approaching siren. But instead of turning left across the dam to reach the crash site, the ambulance continued straight up the road that circles the popular lake.

Since almost none of the 34 parking areas ringing Hagg Lake was named, the ambulance driver, lacking better directions, was left to look for anything resembling a crash scene. He finally found it and the slightly hurt motorist, but only after nearly completing the 10-mile circuit of the lake.

Now the nearly 800,000 people who likely will visit Hagg Lake this summer will find signs and new names and numbers for all of the lake's turnouts, boat ramps and recreation areas.

"We realized that the lack of specific names for those spots could create a real safety issue," said Todd Winter, the county's parks superintendent. "First responders will now be able to know exactly where they need to go."

Although the visitor season is just getting underway at Hagg Lake, the new signage system has already shown its worth, he said.

Two aid calls reporting that a hiker was suffering from heat exhaustion came in recently. Had that occurred last year, medics would have been directed to drive across the dam and head up Southwest Scoggins Valley Road in search of the victim. This time, callers directed them to newly signed and named Elks Recreation Area immediately southwest of Scoggins Dam.

"There was no doubt or confusion on anyone's part," Winter said. "To us, that's a pretty big deal."

In a numerical order that proceeds clockwise around the lake, Elks is number one. Just beyond it is Rainbow View, which offers an enticing, tree-canopied trail that meanders down to the lake.

Brothers John Barr of Salem and Brooke Barr of Lincoln City chose the latter to hop into their fishing inflatables on a recent afternoon. The blue gill and crappie they were after turned out to be in short supply, but both applauded the lake's new signage.

"It's absolutely a great idea," John Barr said. "Anything that helps locate people in a faster manner is tremendous."

"I couldn't agree more," Brooke Barr said. "If you're looking at a true emergency out here, time is going to be critical."

Prior to this year, only two of the lake's stopping points were named -- A-Ramp Recreation Area and C-Ramp Recreation Area. And even then, there was confusion.

"The original plans out here called for a third boat ramp, which was to be dubbed B-Ramp," Winter said. "For some reason, it never got built. Still, when people would pass A-Ramp and finally come to C-Ramp, they always thought they'd missed the one in the middle. Without proper signage, they had no reason to think otherwise."

A-Ramp, on the lake's eastern shore, is now officially called Eagle Point Recreation Area. The county is in discussion with the Tualatin Band of the Kalapuya Indians to rename C-Ramp in a way that reflects the tribe's ancient use of the area.

"They love the idea," Winter said. "We're hoping to have some sort of ceremony out here on the day we make it official."

The signs themselves cost the county almost nothing. Industrial arts students at Gaston and Hillsboro high schools did the work and the results are professional in appearance.

For Alice Hoyt, assistant manager of the Hot 'n' Dog BBQ, Bait & Boat rental shop at C-Ramp, the new system represents a much-needed improvement.

At least twice a season, her shop gets calls for assistance from boaters who have run out of gas or just had their engines die.

"Before," Hoyt said, "they would tell us things like, 'turn right off the dock and go to the second cove.' Now, we'll know they are near Sain Creek 2. It'll be a huge help."

-- Dana Tims

503-294-7647; @DanaTims

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