Improvements to the south campground and day-use area at Viento State Park seven miles west of Hood River have started as part of an overall project constructing the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail from the park east to Mitchell Point.  The south campground and day-use area are closed through spring 2023.  Work began for a two-mile segment of the state trail in early 2022 and work to prepare for campground improvements, including removal of trees necessary to construct the improvements, is now underway.  Travelers on Interstate 84 and park neighbors will see activity in the area for this project and another project to improve oak habitat.  Big leaf maple and Douglas-fir will be removed from a one-acre site in the park, which will allow the existing Oregon white oak ecosystem to thrive and produce new trees.  Work on the habitat restoration begins in late September.  Although the day-use access to the trail is closed during the work, the Starvation Creek State Park access to the historic trail remains open.