Ben Lilly and Willow Creek Campground Closure

PROHIBITIONS
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), the following are prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands in the Reserve Ranger District, Gila National Forest, described below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the “Described Areas/Roads”):
1. Going into or being upon 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 resource in the performance of an official duty.

DESCRIBED AREAS/ROADS
1. Willow Creek Campground.
2. National Forest System Road (NFSR) 508 occurring within Willow Creek Campground.
3. Ben Lilly Campground.
4. National Forest System Road (NFSR) 635 occurring within Ben Lilly Campground.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this Order is to protect public health and safety in the Willow Creek and Ben Lilly Campgrounds from potentially elevated post-fire flooding risks in Willow Creek due to the Hummingbird and Sacaton Wildfires.

IMPLEMENTATION
1. This Order shall be in effect from July 21, 2026 at 6:00 AM through October 16, 2026 at 6:00 AM, unless rescinded.
2. A map identifying the Described Area/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/gila/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 Reserve Ranger District in Reserve, NM at (575) 533-6231, and the Gila National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Silver City, NM at (575) 388-8201 for more information about this Order.
6. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts on the same Described Area/Roads.

Signed and issued on July 20, 2026.

Camille Howes
Forest Supervisor
Gila National Forest