NEWS RELEASE
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
U.S. Forest Service
Coconino National Forest
www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino
www.twitter.com/CoconinoNF
www.flickr.com/photos/coconinonationalforest
For Immediate Release
April 26, 2011
Forest Service revises Schultz closures, expands “no campfire” area north of Flagstaff
Flagstaff, AZ – Beginning Sunday, May 1, changes will be made to the Schultz Burn closure west of Highway 89, the Schultz Flood closure east of the highway will be lifted, and the “no-campfire” zone north of Flagstaff will be expanded around the south and east base of the San Francisco Peaks. Though portions of the forest will reopen, some hazards continue to exist. Visitors are urged to use caution and make safety their top priority while in the area.
The general Schultz Burn area west of Hwy 89 will be open to non-motorized use; however, all FS trails and roads will remain closed and a motor vehicle restriction will be in place throughout the area. Forest crews will continue working throughout the year to mitigate hazards on the FS roads and trails in an effort to reopen those as soon as possible.
“We’re working hard to address public safety while providing public access to the forest,” says Mike Elson, Flagstaff District Ranger. Safety signs will be posted in the area to remind visitors of hazards such as flash flooding and dead standing trees, but ultimately, each visitor is responsible for his or her own safety. “Visitors should be aware of their surroundings at all times. Err on the side of caution.”
Lockett Meadow Campground and Little Elden Horse Camp will remain closed this season. Lockett Meadow road is open to non-motorized use only; the meadow can be accessed for day use if visitors choose to hike, bike, or ride their horses up the road. Depending on the rain received during monsoon season, Lockett Meadow Road is at risk of washing out again. Visitors who choose to visit should be aware of this potential and plan their activities accordingly.
In addition, the Schultz flood closures east of Hwy 89 around the Fernwood neighborhood will be lifted. Over the past month, Coconino National Forest employees from all disciplines (from fire crews, to wildlife biologists, to clerical personnel) teamed-up to construct approximately 3 miles of fence around the Copeland Canal. “We’ve also fixed the damage to Forest Road 776 to provide temporary access this summer as we explore opportunities for a more permanent reroute of the first portion of that road,” says Elson.
Some areas will likely be closed again for individual circumstances as the Forest Service moves forward with flood mitigation and forest rehabilitation efforts. Closures could be warranted for activities such as areas where rolling debris would pose a threat during Waterline Road repairs, areas under any additional aerial mulching operations, and areas damaged by future flooding. “We’ll seek to keep these closures as localized and short-term as we can,” says Elson.
The Coconino National Forest will also be expanding the year-round “no campfire” policy to a portion of the forest north of Flagstaff at the base of the mountains. The Dry Lake Hills No Campfire Area will adjoin the existing campfire ban around the Chimney Springs and Fort Valley Experimental Forest to the west, and the camping/campfire closure in place around the greater Flagstaff area to the south.
In general, campfires will be prohibited on the southern base of the mountains from Highway 180 and Snowbowl Road, across Schultz Pass, to Hwy 89.” This restriction is in a location where terrain presents a challenge and safety concern for firefighters and public in the event of a wildfire,” says Elson. Ingress and egress is limited, vegetation is difficult to treat with thinning and prescribed fire, and any post-fire flood effects could severely impact the community. Camping will still be permitted in the Dry Lake Hills No Campfire Area.
Additional information, including maps and Forest Orders, can be obtained from the website at www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino or by contacting the Flagstaff Ranger District at 928-526-0866.
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