Santa Fe National Forest Announces Road Closures on Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District

Release Date: Dec 28, 2016

Contact(s): Julie Anne Overton

Santa Fe, NM – Dec. 28, 2016 – For Immediate Release.  The Santa Fe National Forest has issued a seasonal road closure order for several Forest Service roads and areas on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District that are susceptible to damage under severe weather conditions.  The order is in effect until Dec. 31, 2022, unless rescinded earlier.

The closure order will protect public health and safety, natural resources and infrastructure during periods of extreme soil moisture and heavy snowfall.  Closures usually occur in the winter months between January and April.

The closures restrict the use of four-wheel and two-wheel motorized vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles, on the restricted roads when gates are closed, locked or posted with a closure sign.  Snowmobiles are not prohibited under this order.

The restricted area includes the entire length of all of the following Forest System Roads (FSR) on Santa Fe National Forest land and the lands surrounding those roads as described by Township, Range, and Section:

• FSR 18 (Mineral Hill) in its entirety (T16N, R14E, Sections 23 & 35)
• FSR 156 (Johnson Mesa) in its entirety (T16N, R14E, Sections 13 & 23)
• FSR 263 in its entirety (Tl6N, R14E, Section 14)
• FSR 636 in its entirety (T19N, R14E, Sections 29 & 30)
• FSR 637 in its entirety (Tl 7N, R14E, Section 28)
• FSR 113 in its entirety (T20N, R14E, Section 34)
• FSR 114 in its entirety (Tl6N, R14E, Section 35)
• FSR 18 JC (San Geronimo) from Forest boundary in its entirety (T15N, R14E, Section 27)
• FSR 634 (San Ignacio) from Forest boundary in its entirety (T17N, R14E, Section 20)
• FSR 86 in its entirety (T 17N, R 12E, Sections 6, 26, 27, 32 & 33)
• FSR 92 in its entirety (Tl 7N, R12E, Sections 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 33, 34 & 35)
• FSR 123 in its entirety (Tl 7N, R12E, Section 29, 30 & 32)
• FSR 123A in its entirety (Tl 7N, R12E, Section 32)
• FSR 375 (Glorieta Baldy) in its entirety (T16N, R12E, Section 24)
• FSR 645 (Willow Creek) in its entirety (Tl 7N, R12E, Sections 19, 20, 21, 24, 25 & 30)
• FSR 646 (Davis-Willow) in its entirety (Tl 7N, R12E, Section 25, 26, 27, 30, 34, 35 & 36)
• FSR 555 to Jack's Creek Campground (Jack's Creek) in its entirety (Tl 7N, R12E, Section 7)
• FSR 305 (Panchuela) in its entirety (Tl 7N, R12E, Sections 27 & 34)
• FSR 121 (Winsor Creek) in its entirety(Tl 7N, R12E, Sections 3, 33 & 34)
• FSR 122 (Holy Ghost) in its entirety (Tl 7N, Rl2E, Section 33)
• FSR 83 (Barillas) in its entirety (Tl6N, Rl3E, Section 3, 4, 9, 21, 31, 32 & 33)
• FSR 632(Capulin) in its entirety (Tl 9N, Rl4E, Sections 5, 6, 29, 30, 31 & 36)
• FSR 638 (Capulin) in its entirety (Tl 9N, R14E, Sections 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 32 & 36)
• EV Long Campground (T16N Rl4E Sec 13)
• El Porvenir Campground (Tl 7N R14E Sec 12)
• Field Tract (Tl6N RI IE Sec 20)
• Cowles Campground (Tl8N RI IE Sec 32)

Forest Service personnel will enforce the orders.  Violations are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, imprisonment of not more than six months, or both.

Federal, state and local officers, members of an organized rescue team or firefighting force, landowners accessing their private property, snowmobilers, and any others authorized by permit are exempt from the closure orders.

Copies of the closure orders and maps are available at the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) Headquarters, the SFNF website and the Pecos/Las Vegas District Offices.

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