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  • Headquarters Well Area Closure on Española Ranger District

    The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) has issued a camping closure for Headquarters Well in the Española Ranger District to prevent further resource damage caused by an increase in unauthorized long-term camping, vandalism, and trash dumping.

    While the closure order is in place the SFNF will conduct critical restoration and rehabilitation work to address resource damage and implement a long-term management plan for the area. This order shall be in effect from June 21, 2024, at 0800 through December 31, 2025, at 0800, unless rescinded.

    Prohibited Activities

    1. Camping. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58 (e).
    2. Being in the area after sundown or before sunrise. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(l).
    3. Being on any road in the Described Area after sundown or before sunrise. 36
    4. C.F.R. § 261.54(e).
    5. Being on any trail in the Described Area after sundown or before sunrise. 36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a).

    Violation of the closure order is punishable. Federal, state, and local officers, firefighters, members of an organized rescue team, and any others authorized by Forest Service permit are exempt from the closure order.

    More Information

    For more information, please contact the Española Ranger District Office in Española, (505) 753-7331 or the Santa Fe National Forest SO in Santa Fe, (505) 438-5300.

Alert Start Date: June 21st, 2024

Alert End Date: December 31st, 2025

Order Number: 03-10-06-24-07

Associated Documents

Official closure order document

Forest Order

PROHIBITIONS 

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

1. Camping. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58 (e). 

2. Being in the area after sundown or before sunrise. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(l). 

3. Being on any road in the Described Area after sundown or before sunrise. 36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e). 

4. Being on any trail in the Described Area after sundown or before sunrise. 36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a). 

 

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. 

3. Persons on NFS Roads and Trails in the Described Area after sundown or before sunrise for the exclusive purpose of traveling through the Described Area. 

 

DESCRIBED AREA/ROADS/TRAILS 

The Described Area includes all NFS lands within Section 21, Township 17 North, Range 8 East, New Mexico Meridian, New Mexico, as specifically depicted in Exhibit A. 

 

PURPOSE 

The purpose of this Order is to prevent further resource damage caused by increase in uncontrolled camping activities, vandalism, and trash dumping. This Order will also allow for rehabilitation of the natural resources in the Described Area. 

 

IMPLEMENTATION 

1. This Order shall be in effect from June 21, 2024, at 0800 through December 31, 2025, at 0800, unless rescinded. 

2. A map identifying the Described [Area/Roads/Trails] is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A. 

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 Espanola Ranger District in Espanola, NM, (505) 753-7331, or the Santa Fe National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Santa Fe, NM, (505) 438-5300, for more information about this Order. 

6. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Area.

Contact Name:

Espanola Ranger Station

Contact Number:

505-753-7331

Maps

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map of closure area at headquarters well
map of closure area at headquarters well

Last updated April 14th, 2025

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