[Az-Geocaching] First Water ?

[Jerry Nelson]

Yes, it's closed.  Below is a press release I was just sent from the FS.

Jerry-Offtrail


 
NEWS           United States       Tonto National Forest
                    Department of        2324 E. McDowell Rd.
                    Agriculture          Phoenix, Arizona 85006
                                   (602) 225-5200
                                   www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/
 
For Immediate Release
                              Contacts:  Jim Payne (602) 225-5291 or
                                          Ken Palmrose (602) 225-5229
 
                 TONTO CLOSES MAJORITY OF FOREST TO ENTRY
 
Phoenix, Ariz--- May 20, 2002---Due to extreme wildfire conditions
coupled
with the increased risk of human-caused fires, Tonto National Forest
officials are implementing the most severe fire restrictions in the
Forest's history.  "Effective Wednesday, May 22, 2002 at 8:00 a.m.,
approximately 80 percent of the Tonto NF will be closed to entry except
by
permit," stated Karl Siderits, Tonto National Forest Supervisor.
 
The only exceptions to the closure are the "Chain of Lakes," the area
west
of the Verde River, the Goldfield Mountain area south of Saguaro Lake,
and
The Rolls area north of Saguaro Lake.  With the exception of the Chain of
Lakes, campfires are banned throughout the entire Tonto National Forest.
Campfires will be allowed in the Chain of Lakes only in developed
recreation sites with the exception of the Bagley site at Saguaro Lake.
(The Chain of Lakes refers to Roosevelt, Apache, Saguaro, Canyon,
Bartlett,
and Horseshoe lakes and includes the Lower Verde and Lower Salt rivers).
Arizona State highways within the Tonto National Forest remain open.
 
Fee campgrounds along Highway 260 east of Payson will also remain open;
however no fires will be allowed. The open campgrounds are Ponderosa,
Upper
Tonto Creek, Christopher Creek, Sharp Creek, and Houston Mesa.
 
"This has not been an easy decision, especially with the upcoming
Memorial
Day weekend.   This short-term inconvenience will help prevent possible
long-term effects from large destructive wildfires.  My staff and I have
received overwhelming public support for restrictive closures," Siderits
added.
 
Currently, escaped and illegal campfires are occurring across all public
lands in Arizona.  According to Tonto NF Law Enforcement Officer Tom
Lister,  "Officers from national forests around the state are reporting
the
continued occurrence of illegal campfires and smoking violations.  These
illegal fires increase the chances of major wildfires and cause a drain
on
local firefighting and law enforcement resources that must respond to
every
new start.
 
                                  -more-
 
Tonto NF closures-2
 
We are working closely with the US Attorney's Office concerning the
issuance of citations for illegal campfires and also to recover the
suppression costs from those found guilty of such criminal carelessness."
 
Violators may be subject to a $5000 fine, six months in jail, or both.
People who start wildfires may be liable for the entire suppression cost.
 
 
For further information regarding Tonto National Forest fire closures,
restrictions, and recreation information, please call (602) 225-5200.
 
For general information on fire activity and restrictions in Arizona call
toll free 877-864-6985, or visit the Southwest Region website at
www.fs.fed/r3/fire, or the statewide Fire Prevention Team at
www.azfireinfo.com.
 
 
 
                                    ###


On Tue, 21 May 2002 13:30:05 -0700 Chelby Geiss <chelby@desertsol.com>
writes:
> Is anyone more familiar with First Water Trailhead?  We took 
> advantage 
> of the weather and took a hike.  Got to the horse staging are to pay 
> our 
> fee and the fee boxes are gone.  I didn't know if they did this 
> every 
> year during the summer.  Am slightly worried that they may be 
> getting 
> ready to close this area.
> Just curious!
> C:)
> Team desertSol
> Chelby & Kevin
> +
> Kiva and Lancer (German Shepherds)
> Apache Junction, AZ
> www.desertsol.com/~chelby/geocaching
> 
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>