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Wet weather may affect forest road use

To limit road, soil and vegetation damage, forest managers may restrict motorized travel during wet weather on the Coconino and Kaibab forests.

Temporary motor vehicle and ATV travel restrictions, will be implemented when precipitation saturates soils. This could mean temporarily closing many roads and the prohibition of cross-country motor vehicle travel.

A backbone system of roads may remain open to allow forest access. However, during times of heavy rain or snow, forest managers could chose to close all roads in affected areas to protect forest roads and resources and for the public's safety.

Roads that remain open are the most suitable for travel during wet conditions and will be strategically located to provide reasonable access to the forests.

The wet weather travel restrictions will be implemented in a similar way to fire restrictions and area closures. Based on conditions on the ground, the forest supervisor will issue an official order which restricts use to those roads that are most suitable for travel.

The restrictions will be lifted as soon as conditions allow. Just as with fire area closures, wet weather travel restrictions will likely not have to be implemented annually.

Signs reading, "Entering wheeled motorized restriction area. Use only roads and trails shown on official map," along with a second sign displaying a map showing open routes in the area are posted at strategic access points on the forests.

Motorized travelers will be required to stay on those designated routes until the soils dry out and the restrictions have been lifted.

During fall 2004 and winter 2004-2005, forest roads, soils and vegetation sustained damage from motorized vehicles following periods of very wet weather.

Some travelers continued to use forest roads despite extremely wet and muddy conditions, which led to deep ruts and, in some areas, the creation of alternate routes around problem spots.

"There was more damage in 2004 and 2005 than should be tolerated, and we need to do something to reduce that," said Stu Lovejoy, stewardship staff officer for the Kaibab National Forest. "The new wet weather travel policy is a proactive attempt to protect roads and soils during the times when they are most susceptible to damage."

The Kaibab and Coconino National Forests developed the wet weather travel policy in coordination with the Arizona Game and Fish Department due to the large numbers of hunters in the woods during the times when very wet weather is most likely to occur.

The goal of the partnership between the forests and the department is to provide reasonable motor vehicle access while also protecting forest roads and resources and providing for public safety.

"Besides the damage to the forest that occurs following very wet weather, we also have drivers getting stuck in the mud and having to call for help from towing companies to have their vehicles extricated," Lovejoy said. "We had to find a solution to this problem."

Information on the wet weather travel restrictions are posted at http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/ and http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/. Information will also be available at Forest Service and Arizona Game and Fish offices.


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