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The following Press Releases are courtesy of Phyllis Wheaton, Visitor Information Services, San Juan Public Lands, Pagosa Ranger District.
P.O. Box 310
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147
970 264-1503
The Press Releases are listed in order from newest to oldest.
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SCROLL DOWN for the Latest Road, Campground and Trail Info
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2010
Motorists Warned of Washboarded Surfaces on Backcountry Gravel Roads
Motorists are warned to beware of wash-boarded surfaces on gravel roads accessing the San Juan National Forest this summer. The public is urged to drive slowly and allow extra time to arrive at backcountry destinations. Washboards form on steeper grades and curves and can cause drivers to lose control of vehicles, sometimes resulting in serious accidents. The San Juan National Forest has about 700 miles of open gravel roads, but only minimal equipment to address the problem.
“Dry conditions, coupled with high vehicular speeds and traffic volumes, can cause washboard hazards to develop,” said Bill Ivy, San Juan National Forest Civil Engineering Technician. “As the busy holiday approaches, our crews will continue to work on the most traveled routes, but little relief can be expected through the summer.”
For more information on road conditions, please contact a San Juan Public Lands office closest to your destination in Bayfield, Dolores, Durango or Pagosa Springs or go online to:
www.fs.fed.us/r2/sanjuan/conditions.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 23, 2010
Fuels Mitigation to Resume in Sauls Creek Area this Week
Fuels-mitigation activities will resume this week on about 600 acres in the Sauls Creek area of the San Juan National Forest. Roads and trails in the area may be temporarily closed for safety concerns when mowing activities are nearby.
Work will be accomplished with the use of a hydro-axe fitted with a vertical shaft mowing head. Approximately 40 to 60 percent of existing vegetation, including small oak, juniper, and piņon and ponderosa pine trees, will be mowed in a natural mosaic pattern to create fire breaks. The goal is to change the vegetation in a manner that will help reduce the rate of spread and intensity of potential wildfires. Other benefits include an increased forest diversity and resilience and improved wildlife habitat.
Later this summer, mowing will resume on National Forest lands in the Spring Creek area, where about 30 acres remain to be treated.
For more information, contact Craig K. Sullivan (Fuels/Forester) at the Columbine District Office. (970-884-1422).
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For Immediate Release
June 4, 2010
Your San Juan Mosaic: Mixed Conifer Forest Walk, June 24
Join forester Steve Hartvigsen, ecologist Sara Brinton, and volunteer interpretive guide Susan Halabrin as they lead a walk through a mixed conifer ecosystem—the “San Juan Mosaic” along Jackson Mountain Road within the San Juan National Forest. In April, Hartvigsen, Brinton, and Beth Jones provided an introduction to the mixed conifer ecosystem via a slide presentation at the Community Center.
This walk provides and opportunity to explore and learn about how this specialized ecosystem creates a unique mosaic of diversity in the forest. Defined as the band of tree species that lies above our ponderosa pine forests and below the subalpine spruce-fir forests, mixed conifer contains the greatest diversity of tree species, across highly variable terrain. Hence, of forest types within the San Juan National Forest, the mixed conifer is the most complex.
The walk will be on Thursday, June 24, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00p.m. Although geared for an adult audience, people of all ages are welcome to attend. The walk will mostly occur off trail through the forest. Wear walking shoes or boots, dress appropriately for the weather, and bring drinking water and a lunch. Please leave your four-legged friends at home.
There is not a limit to the number of attendees but to help ensure there are a sufficient number of handouts for attendees, please contact the Forest Service Office at 264-2268 to R.S.V.P. To carpool, meet at the District Office at 180 Pagosa Street (Smokey Bear is out front) at 9:00 a.m. or join the group at the beginning of Jackson Mountain Road (#037) located on Highway 160, approximately 7.3 miles northeast of Pagosa Springs at 9:20 a.m. For more information, contact Pagosa Ranger District at 264-2268 or 180 Pagosa Street.
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For additional information, call 264-2268 or visit our office at 180 Pagosa Street. Updates are posted to the left of our front door and under “Road Conditions” at http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/sanjuan.
The following is the latest road update for from the Forest Service:
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ROADS
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Status
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Black Mtn # 661
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Open
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Blanco River # 656
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Open
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Blue Creek # 012
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Open
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Buckles Lake # 663
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Open
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Burns Canyon # 649
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Open
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Castle Creek # 660 to Opal Lake THD
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Open
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Castle Creek # 660 to Fish Creek
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Open
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Devil Creek # 627
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Open
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Devil Mountain # 626
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Open
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East Fork # 667
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Open
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East Tonor #637
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Open
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Echo Canyon # 029
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Open
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Eight Mile Mesa # 651
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Open
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Falls Creek Road #039
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Closed
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Fawn Gulch Road #666
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Open
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First Fork # 622
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Open
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Fish Creek #660
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Open
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Fourmile Road #645
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Open
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Jackson Mountain # 037
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Open
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Kenney Flats # 006
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Open
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Lefthand Canyon # 024
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Open
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Lower Piedra Campground # 621
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Open
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Middle Fork # 636
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Open
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Mill Creek # 662
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OPEN - Mill Creek is now a county road and is no longer open to ATVs.
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Monument Park East # 630
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Open
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Monument Park West # 630
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Open
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Mosca # 631
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Open
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Nipple Mtn to Echo Canyon
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Open
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Nipple Mtn Above Echo #665 to MM 9
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Open
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Plumtaw Lower # 634
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Open
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Plumtaw Upper # 634
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Open
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Porcupine #024
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Open
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Price Lakes # 731
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Open
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Snow Ball # 646
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Open
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Trail Ridge # 639
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Open
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Turkey Creek # 647 (Upper)
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Open
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Turkey Springs # 629 (Lower)
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Open
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Valle Seco Upper # 653 to private property
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Open
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West Fork # 648
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Open
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Williams Creek # 640
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OPEN
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Willow Draw # 722
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Open
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Wolf Creek Road #725
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Closed
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CAMPGROUNDS
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Status
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Tentative
Opening Date
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Blanco River
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Open
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Bridge
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Open
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Cimmarona
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Open
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East Fork
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Open
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Lower Piedra
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Open
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Palisades
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Open
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Teal
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Open
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Ute
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Open
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West Fork
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Open
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Williams Creek
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Open
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Do not go off roads, except to park adjacent to the road on dry ground.
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An open gate does not give permission to damage roads. Damage is defined as: ruts 1 inch deep or deeper on gravel roads, 4 inches deep or deeper on native surface roads
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