Health director reopens La Crosse County’s campgrounds with restrictions beginning Friday

La Crosse County’s health officer Jen Rombalski has re-opened campgrounds under certain criteria, beginning Friday.

Rombalski said the decision was based on the risk of community spread versus the needs of the community.

Visitors would not be allowed at these sites and groups would need to be restricted to 10 or less.

Only seasonal sites that are totally independent — with water tanks or hookups and waste disposal.

Tents would not be allowed, because those campers would need access to utilities for water.

Campground capacity would need to be at 50 percent or less.

Priority would be given to certain campers, including:

— Those who use the site as their primary source of residence for the summer months (April–October)
— Seasonal campers that do not have alternate housing available
— Essential workers living or working in La Crosse County without other housing options
— First responders who need to use a campground for Covid-19 quarantine or isolation-related housing
— Others with prior permission of the local health officer or assigned designee.

Lastly, for those who come to a La Crosse County campground from another county, they would need to bring enough supplies to stay at the campground and quarantine for 14 days.

They would also have to notify La Crosse County they were coming to a campground.

The reasoning for this is “so that they aren’t going out into the community and potentially exposing others,” the county said. “We recommend connecting with the campground to get further guidance on this if you are traveling from out of the county.”

More rules for reopening campgrounds can be found by clicking here.