| Carson 208 Cruz Alta Road |
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| Carson 208 Cruz Alta Road |
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STAGE III FIRE RESTRICTIONS ON THE CARSON NATIONAL FOREST
Taos New Mexico, June 23, 2006 – As drought conditions continue
to affect conditions on the Carson National Forest as well as other areas of
New Mexico, Stage III Fire restrictions will take effective Monday, June 26,
2006. Concern for public and firefighter safety has prompted the move to mitigate
the danger to forest recreationists by containing visitors to areas that can
be easily patrolled and evacuated in the event of a wildfire.
Under Stage III restrictions, partial closures will be enforced. Areas to remain open are as follows:
• Jicarilla Ranger District will remain at Stage II Fire Restrictions.
• El Rito Ranger District will enact total closure.
• Canjilon Ranger District will prohibit entrance to all areas with the exception of Canjilon Lakes for day use and overnight camping. Echo Amphitheater and Forest Road 151 access to Rio Chama will remain open for day use only.
• Tres Piedras Ranger District will prohibit entrance to all areas with the exception of Hopewell Lake overnight and day use areas.
• Questa Ranger District will prohibit entrance to all areas with the exception of:
Overnight Camping: developed campsites along State Road 38 where camp hosts are available.
Day Use Trails: Williams Lake Trail 62 and Red River Nature Trail 66.
Other: Taos Ski Valley and Red River lift areas will remain open as well as day use at Eagle Rock and Fawn Lake Fishing Areas.
• Camino Real Ranger District will prohibit entrance to all areas with the exception of:
Overnight Camping: Santa Barbara, Agua Piedra, Comales, Duran Canyon, La Junta Canyon and Upper La Junta.
Day Use Picnic Areas: Flechado, Agua Piedra, Amole, Las Petacas.
Day Use Trails: Agua Piedra, Indian Creek, South Boundary, Devisadero, Cordova Canyon and Elliot Barker.
Other: Middle Fork and West Fork access to the Pecos Wilderness. Forest Roads 116 and 76 from State Road 518.
“Day Use Only” is defined as 7:00 am to 7: 00 pm.
The anticipated arrival of monsoon rains and the amount of moisture this system will bring will determine the length of time the Carson will remain at Stage III. Fire Managers are predicting that unless we receive significant amounts of rain, we may return to severe fire conditions by early August.
We would like to thank all residents and forest visitors for their continued vigilance and remind the public that “thinking smart and not letting a wildfire start” is everyone’s responsibility as recreationists and land use managers.
For more information on fire Restrictions please call 1-877-864-6985 or visit our website at www.fs.fed.us/r3/carson. For fire restrictions and other fire information for other recreation sites in New Mexico, log on to www.nmfireinfo.com.
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