Lower Salt River Area Temporary Emergency Equestrian Closure for Public Health & Safety

Associated Documents

Forest Order

PROHIBITIONS

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

1. Riding, hitching, tethering or hobbling a horse or other saddle or pack animal in violation of posted instructions within the Described Area. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(aa)

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Persons with Forest Service form 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 AREA

All National Forest System (NFS) lands within the boundary, starting at the Granite Reef Developed Recreation Site, then following north, east, then north along the Tonto National Forest boundary for approximately 12 miles to the junction with AZ State Route (SR) 87 (also referred to as the Beeline Highway), then following along the south and east side of SR-87 northeast to NFS Road 204 (also referred to as Bush Highway), then following along the west side of Bush Highway for approximately 4 miles to NFS Road 206 (also referred to as Saguaro Lake Road), then following along the south side of Saguaro Lake Road east for approximately 0.5 miles to the shoreline of Saguaro Lake, then following along the west shoreline of Saguaro Lake south for approximately 2 miles to the Stewart Mountain Dam, then following along the east and south shoreline of the Salt River south and west for approximately 2.5 miles to the powerline easement road, then following southwest along the powerline easement road for approximately 2 miles to the junction with NFS Road 10 (also referred to as Bulldog Canyon Road), then following northwest along Bulldog Canyon Road for approximately 2 miles to the intersection with Bush Highway, then following along the north and west side of Bush Highway southwest, back to the point of beginning at the Granite Reef Developed Recreation Site.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Order is to protect public health and safety in concurrence with Administrative Order #25A-ASD055-AGR for quarantine of equine in the Lower Salt River area issued by Arizona Department of Agriculture on December 6, 2025, to prevent further spread of Equine Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) for a least 14 days from the time the last animal displays clinical signs.

IMPLEMENTATION

1. This Order shall be in effect from December 06, at 6 a.m. through March 06, 2026, at 6 a.m., unless rescinded.
2. A map identifying the Described Area 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/r03/tonto/alerts
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 Mesa Ranger District in Mesa, Arizona, (480) 610-3300, for more information about this Order.
6. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar act in the same Described Area.