Forest Roads Ripped Apart
Release Date: Nov 19, 2004
Contact(s): Coconino Supervisor's Office - 928-527-3600
Flagstaff, AZ - Travelers across forest roads over the past few weeks have no doubt noticed the poor conditions of the roads and have likely had difficulties when traveling throughout the forests. Currently, forest roads are in the worst condition that forest officials have seen in many years, even though we have not had large amounts of moisture for several weeks. According to Terri Marceron, Mormon Lake District Ranger, "Visitors to the forest need to understand that although we haven't had rain recently, forest roads are in bad shape right now, and continued vehicle travel across these roads is making their condition even worse." Over the past several weeks, forest officials are finding huge mud holes and ruts in roads and new roads are being created in the forest by vehicles trying to go around these mud holes. Last weekend, 25 citations were issued for resource damage resulting from vehicles damaging forest roads and mud-bogging. Many of these visitors had already driven around barriers and signs designating the roads as closed.
Because we have received more moisture this year than in previous years it is extremely important that forest visitors remain aware of the road conditions and the weather. Roads that are frozen in the morning will quickly thaw and become muddy by the afternoon. Visitors should keep in mind that damage to forest roads is a citable offense. If a visitor starts driving down a road and finds the conditions to be wet and slick, they should stop and turn around, or walk into the area they are trying to access. For more information regarding road closures and road conditions, please access the "Current Conditions" section of the Coconino National Forest web-site at www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino, or call (928) 527-3600.