te-wa wrote:its not closed due to weather. its closed permanently, or until TNF lifts the closure based on studies of environmental impact of local plantlife.
the gate is 100 yards from the exit off Beeline.
Mike,
You don't think that it has anything to do with this (below)? The TNF phone# is at the end of the news release; not that they'd KNOW anything of course...
Storm damage continues to prompts closures on Tonto National Forest
PHOENIX (January 26, 2010) –Last week’s storm activities have prompted more closures on the Tonto National Forest announced forest officials today. Due to the rain, melting snow, and more predicted precipitation this week, there are a number of off-highway vehicle (OHV) areas which are currently closed: the whole Sycamore area, including Forest Road (FR) 403 in the lower Sycamore area and FR 402 in the upper Sycamore (Sugarloaf area) and the Mesquite Wash area, FR 160. Other closures due to flooding washes include FR 11, 1845, 1704, 1333, 3456. It is advised against using Forest Road 143 due to the snow pack. The Mt. Ord Road is closed due to the snow pack.
“People cut through fences and locks in the OHV areas over the weekend, resulting in two rescue efforts, ” stated Sharon Wallace, acting Mesa District Ranger. “Their vehicles are still out there. All the washes off Hwy. 87 are flooding. With the snow melt and more precipitation expected for this week, this is not a time to be in these areas. ”
Butcher Jones, Coon Bluff, and Granite Reef recreation sites on the Mesa Ranger district remain closed this week. Other recreation sites along the Lower Salt River continue to be monitored for possible closure dependent on rising water due to storm activity and snow melt.
“On the Cave Creek Ranger District, there are a number of ongoing assessments and repairs needed for roads and recreation sites, as well as the re-positioning of navigation aids,” stated Colleen Madrid, district ranger.
The following roads are expected to be opened later this week: Bartlett Dam, North Lake and Seven Springs roads. The Needle Rock and Box Bar roads are closed for now and the campground will remain closed until evaluated and determined to be safe. Horseshoe Road is closed indefinitely.
The Seven Springs picnic area is closed indefinitely. It is anticipated that the CCC Campground and Cave Creek Group site will be re-opened within the next two weeks.
The Cave Creek trail system (primarily Trail 4) has several wash-outs and has not been fully evaluated for safety, so visitors should avoid it or travel with extreme caution.
The 269 Road between Seven Springs Road and the Agua Fria Grassland Road is washed out at LX Spring. It cannot be entered from Highway 17 because the road is washed out at Bishop Creek on the Agua Fria National Grassland (BLM). Observes Madrid, “People are ignoring this road closure and need to be reminded that they can be cited with a penalty of up to 6 months in jail and $5000 fine for violating closures.”
The water line break at Yellow Cliffs and SB Cave is expected to be repaired within the next two weeks; once the roads are open again, visitors should expect no water or toilet facilities at those sites until all the necessary repairs are made.
The courtesy docks are not available to boaters until repaired; the fishing dock could be repaired as early as this week.
Increased boater caution is also urged due to rising lake levels and increased debris from the storms. Last week’s unusual weather activity, which includes melting snow, continues to cause flooding along rivers, streams, washes and roads throughout the forest and is impacting both land and water resources. Once the storms finally pass and the snow melt lessens, a number of challenges will remain, including not only debris removal and repair of washed-out trails and roads, but also removal of other hazards such as uprooted trees.
“We have a lot of quickly changing conditions out here on the district and some serious repairs to address,” concluded Madrid. “I strongly urge visitors to contact our administrative offices to get updates before they make plans to visit the forest.”
For more information, visit the Tonto’s web site,
www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto, or call the Cave Creek Ranger District office at 480-595-3300, or the Mesa Ranger District office at 480-610-3300.
