Baker County’s Hewitt Park, on the Powder River Arm of Brownlee Reservoir near Richland, will be closed until this fall while Idaho Power Company stabilizes undercut river banks.

The Boise company is paying the entire cost of the work, said Doni Bruland, the county’s parks and natural resources director.

She didn’t know the estimated cost.

Hewitt Park closed Aug. 12. The closure includes the campground, day use area and boat ramp.

Bruland said the park will reopen some time in November.

To partially compensate for the park’s closure, Hewitt’s neighboring park to the west, Holcomb, will be open for camping through Oct. 31, a month later than usual.

The boat ramp at Holcomb is closed, however, due to the low water level.

Bruland said that in places near the tent camping area at Hewitt Park, the bank is undercut by about three feet below the walkway.

She said she has been working with Idaho Power Company for about three years to make the repairs possible.

“I’m really excited,” Bruland said. “It’s going to be wonderful when it’s done.”

Besides posing a safety risk to visitors, the erosion, if unchecked, would eventually cause trees to topple, Bruland said.

Some trees near the water will be cut so workers can build a steel-and-wood wall, and to install concrete blocks that will stabilize the banks, she said.

Idaho Power will buy new trees to replace those that are cut, Bruland said.

Although Hewitt will reopen after the official camping season, Bruland said visitors sometimes park RVs and trailers in the park during the winter. They have to pay only the day-use fee then, since water and power are shut off for the season.