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Hwy 260 Corridor Camping Restrictions
Camping prohibition along the Highway 260 corridor to mitigate natural resource degradation, including negative impacts to soil, water quality and riparian corridors, stemming from overuse of the Described Areas by the public, as well as to protect public health and safety from forest
user conflicts and sanitation issues. This Order shall be in effect from Saturday, January 07, 2025 at midnight through January 07, 2027, unless rescinded.
Alert Start Date: January 7th, 2025
Alert End Date: January 7th, 2027
Order Number: 03-09-05-24-09
Associated Documents
Forest Order
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Forest Service
Prescott National Forest
Verde Ranger District
Camping Closure for Highway 260 Corridor & Salt Mine Areas
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 Verde Ranger District, Prescott National Forest, described below and shown on the attached maps incorporated into this Order as Exhibits A, B, C, & D (the Described Areas):
1. Camping. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(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 All three Described Areas are shown in Exhibit A. Described Area 1 (Exhibit B): All NFS lands east of Arizona State Highway (SR) 260 to the west shoreline of the Verde River, beginning at Prairie Lane in Cottonwood, Arizona, following southeast to Salt Mine Road, then following west then south along the east side of Salt Mine Rd to the intersection with NFS Road (NFSR) 574, then following NFSR 574 along the east side to the intersection with NFSR 334, then following NFSR 574 south for approximately 0.8 miles to the junction with the south boundary of Township 12N, Range 5E, Section 32, then following east along the southern boundary of Sections 32, 33 and 34 until the junction with the Verde River. Described Area 2 (Exhibit C): All NFS lands within 4.5 miles west of SR 260, beginning at West Mingus Avenue in Cottonwood, Arizona, continuing southeast to Interstate 17 (I-17). Described Area 3 (Exhibit D): All NFS lands starting at the intersection of I-17 and SR 260, following southeast along SR 260 to the private land boundary, then following south along the private land boundary to the junction with Salt Mine Road, then following Salt Mine Road south then east to the east boundary line of Township 13N Range 5E Section 12, then following south along the east boundary line of Section 12 to the junction with the Section corner of Township 13N, Range 5E, Sections 13, 18, 24, 19, then following west along the boundary line of Township 13N, Range 5E, Sections 13 and 14 to the southeast section corner of Township 13N, Range 4E, Section 15, then following north along the west boundary of Township 13N, Range 4E, Sections 14 and 11 to I-17, then following I-17 back to the point of beginning at its intersection with SR 260.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Order is to mitigate natural resource degradation, including negative impacts to soil, water quality and riparian corridors, stemming from overuse of the Described Areas by the public, as well as to protect public health and safety from forest user conflicts and sanitation issues.
IMPLEMENTATION
1. This Order shall be in effect from Saturday, January 07, 2025 at midnight through January 07, 2027, unless rescinded.
2. Maps identifying the Described Areas are attached and made part of this Order as Exhibits A, B, C, & D. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibits A, B, C, & D, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/prescott/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 prohibition 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 Verde Ranger District in Camp Verde, AZ, (928) 567-4121, and Prescott National Forest Supervisor's Office in Chino Valley, AZ, (928) 777-2200, for more information about this Order.
6. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Areas.
Signed and issued on December 11, 2024.
Andrew Shriver
Deputy Forest Supervisor
Prescott National Forest