Coconino & Kaibab Closures

[joebartels]

As it currently stands the Coconino forest will not be closing due to pressure from the...
I mean from the mass rain received on forest land over the past three days.

The Kaibab will be closing 8AM Friday the... thirteenth

[PaleoRob]

All the Kaibab, or just the Williams District?

[joebartels]

hmmm, figured the whole forest since it talks about exceptions in the upper districts

Kaibab National Forest To Close Friday Due To Fire Danger

WILLIAMS, Ariz. —In order to prevent human-caused fires, the Kaibab National Forest will close to public access at 8 a.m. Friday (July 13) unless significant, widespread precipitation is received across the forest. Four developed campgrounds – Kaibab Lake, Cataract Lake, Ten-X and DeMotte – will remain open with fire restrictions in effect.

“While many other forests received rain last week, the vast majority of our forest did not,” said Mike Williams, forest supervisor of the Kaibab National Forest. “We already have a large lightning-caused fire on our North Kaibab Ranger District that we are working to suppress. We want to do whatever we can to prevent human-caused fires.”

Once the closure is in effect, all activities will be prohibited on the Kaibab National Forest, including camping, hiking, biking and motorized vehicle use. While Kaibab Lake, Cataract Lake, Ten-X and DeMotte campgrounds will remain open, fire restrictions will be in effect. No fires, campfires, stove fires or charcoal grills will be allowed in the campgrounds. Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns and heaters meeting safety specifications will be allowed. Generators will continue to be allowed in the campgrounds, but stand-alone generators will be required to be placed on bare ground or hardened surfaces.

Jacob Lake Resort, Kaibab Lodge Resort and the North Rim Country Store on the North Kaibab Ranger District will remain open. Also, Forest Road 246 accessing Camper Village on the North Kaibab District and Forest Road 76 accessing Spring Valley Cabin on the Williams District will remain open.

People exempt from the closure include any federal, state or local officer or member of an organized firefighting force in the performance of an official duty; livestock permittees; and owners of residences within the closure area.

“Our overarching goal is public safety,” Williams said. “While we hope this closure won’t last long, it will all depend on when and how much rain we receive.”

For more information, call (928) 635-8314 or visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai.

[PaleoRob]

As an aside, the western portion of the North Kaibab is already closed from FR22 and FR427 west to the edge of the forest due to the Slide Fire. So no Snake Gulch/Kanab Creek access. All which may be moot come Friday morning if we don't get some storms dumping on us.

[Dschur]

On the Kaibab National forest webpage as of July 11. but I heard on the TV this morning they weren't going to close it after all...

Williams and Tusayan Districts To Remain Open Due To Rain
WILLIAMS, Ariz. —The Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts of the Kaibab National Forest will remain open due to recent rain. However, the North Kaibab Ranger District of the forest will still close to public access beginning at 8 a.m. Friday (July 13) unless measurable precipitation is received before then.

Over the last few days, the Williams and Tusayan districts have received between one-tenth and one-half inch of rain, with more predicted this week and next. Forest and fire managers felt the precipitation was adequate to cancel plans to close the two districts. However, fire restrictions and an area closure of the Bill Williams Mountain watershed remain in effect.

The following restrictions are in place on the Williams and Tusayan districts:
· Fires, campfires and charcoal fires are prohibited outside of developed campgrounds.
· Smoking is prohibited except within enclosed vehicles or buildings, or in developed campgrounds.
· Explosives are prohibited.
· Chainsaw use is prohibited.
· Welding is prohibited.
· Using a motor vehicle off developed forest roads is prohibited.
· Fireworks are always prohibited on National Forest lands.
· Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns and heaters meeting safety specifications are allowed.

· Campfires are allowed in developed campgrounds only.
· All generators are allowed in developed campgrounds. Generators internal to a vehicle are allowed outside of campgrounds while external generators are not.

The area closure of the Bill Williams Mountain watershed remains in effect. All activities are prohibited in the closed area, including camping, hiking, biking and motorized vehicle use.

The eastern boundary of the Bill Williams Mountain closure area is County Highway 73, also known as Perkinsville Highway, from Williams south to Forest Road 122, called Twin Springs Road. The southern boundary of the area is FR 122 west to FR 108, the Bill Williams Loop Road. The western boundary is FR 108 north to the Devil Dog Interchange on Interstate Highway 40. The northern boundary is I-40 from the Devil Dog Interchange east to Williams. The boundary roads FR 108, CH 73 and I-40 will remain open. FR 122 will be closed, as will any other area roads not specifically mentioned.

Unless measurable precipitation is received, the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest will close to public access at 8 a.m. Friday (July 13). Once the closure is in effect, all activities will be prohibited, including camping, hiking, biking and motorized vehicle use.

The following permitted businesses located on the North Kaibab district will remain open: Jacob Lake Inn, Kaibab Lodge and the North Rim Country Store. Also, Kaibab Camper Village, which is on private property surrounded by the North Kaibab Ranger District, and Forest Road 461 to Camper Village will remain open.

The Forest Service’s DeMotte Campground and the Jacob Lake Campground Group Site will also remain open.

The planned closure of the North Kaibab Ranger District does not impact the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The park and the main routes accessing it remain open.

People exempt from the closure on the North Kaibab district include any federal, state or local officer or member of an organized firefighting force in the performance of an official duty; persons with a Forest Service permit specifically authorizing the prohibited act; and owners of residences within the closure area.

For more information, call (928) 635-8314 or visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai. The latest fire restriction and closure information for public lands across Arizona can be found at http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/ or by calling toll-free 1-877-864-6985.

[joebartels]

The planned closure of the North Kaibab Ranger District does not impact the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The park and the main routes accessing it remain open.

that's the best part