Cascade Flume Safety Closure

Associated Documents

Forest Order

PROHIBITIONS
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50 (a) the following is prohibited on the
National Forest System (NFS) lands in the Columbine Ranger District, San Juan National Forest,
described below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the
“Described Area”):
1. Entering the Described Area. 36 C.F.R. § 261.53 (e)

EXEMPTIONS
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:
1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or
Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order or a
written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer that a permit is not required
under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2).
2. Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force
in the performance of an official duty.

DESCRIBED AREA
The Described Area is 51-acre National Forest parcel north of NFS road (NFSR) 783. The
Described Area extends from the southeast edge of the service road 0.06 miles past the HWY
550 and NFSR 783 junction (T.39N, R.9W, Section 12, SW ¼, NE ¼), 0.44 miles along the
northern edge of NFSR 783 (not including the road), up to the eastern property boundaries of the
Cascade Summer Homes parcels (T.39N, R.9W, Section 12, NW ¼, SW ¼), extending north
0.19 miles to the southern edge of the Cascade Creek Trail (not including the trail) (T.39N,
R.9W, Section 12, NW ¼, NW ¼), following the trail 0.38 miles southeast until parallel with the
southern bend in the Cascade Tacoma Flume (T.39N, R.9W, Section 12, NW ¼, SW ¼),
continuing south 0.26 miles and following the south side of the service road back to NFSR 783.
The Described Area includes no Forest System trails and roads.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this Order is for public health and safety during the Cascade Tacoma Flume
repair. The recent failure of the flume resulted in infrastructure damage and a landslide that has
destabilized the Described Area. Concerns for public safety include loose debris, continuing
flume degradation, falling trees, and any potential impacts or failures to or from the adjacent
LPEA power transmission line. To protect the health and safety of the public and to prevent
further destabilizing events, this area will be closed.

IMPLEMENTATION
1. This Order shall be in effect from June 13, 2025, at 12 a.m. through November 1, 2026, at 12
a.m., unless rescinded.
2. A map identifying the Described areas and roads is attached and made part of this Order as
Exhibit A. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibit A, go to
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sanjuan/alerts-notices.
3. Unless otherwise expressly defined in this Order, the terms used in this Order are defined by
the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299. If there
are terms in this Order that are not expressly defined in the Order or 36 C.F.R. Chapter II,
Parts 200-299, their meaning shall be determined by their plain language definitions.
4. A violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not
more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not
more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
5. Contact the Columbine Ranger District in Bayfield, CO, (970) 884-2512 and San Juan
National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Durango, CO (970) 247-4874 for more information
about this Order.
6. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts on the same
Described areas and roads.