WATERSPORTS --  Dworshak Reservoir near Orofino, Idaho, is beginning to warm up to the thought of spring and summer recreation with the opening of some facilities next week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says

Dent Acres Boat Ramp will open on Monday, March 14, and the restroom near the ramp will be open.

Merrys Bay day-use, Dam View, and Canyon Creek campgrounds will open April 1.

Dent Acres campground will open for early season camping on April 13, with $14-per-day campsite fees by self-deposit registration. Regular-season camping will start May 26, with full hook-up sites available for $20 a night.

Reservations for the regular season can be made by calling (877) 444-6777, or by reserving online at www.recreation.gov.

The reservoir managers offer this advice:

The weather may be warming up, but the water in Dworshak Reservoir is still very cold from snowmelt and runoff. Always be aware of hypothermia risks, and wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Boat operators should also keep the fluctuating reservoir levels in mind when anchoring or tying-off their vessels. Please, remember to allow plenty of line when tying-off your boat along the shoreline at Dent Acres to allow for water-level fluctuations. Water discharged from Dworshak Dam is being increased to accommodate the predicted run-off as warmer springtime conditions melt snowpack. Corps officials advise boaters and others using waterways, both in Dworshak Reservoir and below the dam, on the Clearwater River to be alert to changes in water elevation and volume of flow.

For updated water level and boat ramp information, call (800) 321-3198.

For info on facilities access and current conditions, call (208 ) 476-1255, or stop by the Dworshak Dam Visitor Center, which is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.