Since 2008, the Bureau of Land Management has looked into 137 negative incidents in the popular hot springs destination.  Beginning Tuesday, the pools could be closed for at least five years.

Skinny Dipper's first incarnation was created in the 90s when a few friends carried cement bags up a hill and built the pools.  They used PVC piping to send water of different temperatures from neighboring streams to  into the pools.  The friends even cut their own trail to make accessing the soaking pools easier.  Unfortunately, those pools were built on federal land and are considered illegal.  After reports of drug use, underage drinking, users starting the Springs Fire in 2012, sexual assaults and three deaths at Skinny Dipper, the BLM has decided to close the pools.

The BLM will put signs in this week telling people they can no longer use the soaking pools and those who try to will be ticketed. They will also star removing the PCV piping that makes the pools work.  Eventually they'll rip out the concrete pools and reclaim the trail leading to the area.

According to the Idaho Statesman, a BLM spokesman says he'll consider proposals that take into account the safety and health hot springs users and the land around the pools right up until the work to remove the pools begins.  If the BLM doesn't find a satisfactory proposal to save Skinny Dipper, the area will remain closed for five years.

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