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Washout at Rock Creek Road May 2018 - photo SNF

Road And Campground Closures On Sierra National Forest

CLOVIS – With the unprecedented number of hazard trees, the winter storm damage to many forest roads, and the associated risks of both, the Sierra National Forest (SNF) has issued a Forest Order closing certain roads, campgrounds and day use areas.

In January and February 2017 the Sierra National Forest received heavy rain, snow, and winds that resulted in significant road damage and fallen trees.

“Although the Forest is addressing damage to National Forest System roads where possible, the roads included in this Order must be closed in the interim to protect the public from dangerous conditions including sink holes, mud and rock slides, cracked pavement, undercut pavement, sloughing, complete washouts and fallen trees,” stated SNF Supervisor Dean Gould.

Closure of these road segments will be accomplished with a gate or barricades (see maps below).

Due to the extremely large volume of tree mortality in the areas addressed by the Order, the use of specified developed recreation sites will be prohibited “to protect the public from the high risk of hazards associated with recreating in direct proximity of dead trees, which have the potential to fall, leading to property damage and/or injury. Salvage logging and tree falling operations will be taking place to improve these hazardous conditions. These efforts will remove weakened trees in and adjacent to recreation sites, preventing conditions from rapidly worsening over the next three to five years as more snags deteriorate and fall.”

This Order supersedes Recreation Site and Road Closure Order No. 05-15-00-18-02, dated June 5, 2018. As of May 24, 2018 and due to the passage of time and changing conditions, the hazards listed above are now present in Swanson Meadow and Big Sandy Campgrounds, making them unsafe for public use. Therefore, it is necessary to close these areas to the public.

Additionally, as of May 25, 2018 due to the hazards listed above being mitigated Forest Road No. 088009 (Peckinpah Road) and Fresno Dome, Deer Creek and Lower Billy Creek Campgrounds as well as Bear Cover and Dowville Day Use areas have been removed from the Order and are now open for public use.

Forest Order No. 05-15-00-18-03

Sierra National Forest Recreation Site and Road Closure

This Order is effective from June 13, 2018, through June 12, 2019. The following acts are prohibited within the Sierra National Forest:

1. Entering or using the Developed Recreation Sites listed below and shown on Exhibits A, B and C.

Bass Lake Ranger District

  • Crane Valley Group Campground
  • Jerseydale Campground
  • Rock Creek Campground
  • Placer Campground
  • Mammoth Pool Campground
  • Ross Cabin
  • Soda Springs Campground
  • Greys Mountain Campground
  • Texas Flat Campground
  • Upper Chiquito Campground
  • Lower Chiquito Campground
  • Sweetwater Campground
  • Windy Point Day Use
  • Big Sandy Campground

High Sierra Ranger District

  • Swanson Meadow Campground

 

2. Being on the National Forest System roads listed below and shown on Exhibits B and D.

Bass Lake Ranger District

  • Forest Road No. 78024, beginning at the intersection of County Road No. 426 and continuing east to its intersection with Forest Road No. 780661A, as shown on Exhibit B.

 

High Sierra Ranger District

  • Forest Road No. 078005 (Stump Springs Road), from mile post 0.0, then continuing north to mile post 10.5, as shown on Exhibit D.

 

Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Persons with a valid permit from the Forest Service authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.

2. Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

3. Owners or lessees of private land to the extent necessary to gain access to their land.

4. Persons with a contract from the Forest Service authorizing work within the closed Developed Recreation Sites and on the closed roads, to the extent authorized by the contract.

A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 USC 551 and 18 USC 3559, 3571, and 3581.

Executed in Clovis, California on June 12, 2018.
DEAN A GOULD Forest Supervisor
This Order supersedes Order No. 05-15-00-18-02, dated June 5, 2018.
05-15-00-18-03
Sierra National Forest

 

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