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  Santa Fe National Forest

Forest Service News Release

Santa Fe National Forest

11 Forest Lane, Santa Fe, NM 87508

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Media Contact: Julie Anne Overton

505-414-6438 (cell)

SM.FS.sfnfpao@usda.gov 

Santa Fe National Forest

SANTA FE, NM – July 5, 2022 – A new closure order that goes into effect today at 8 a.m. reopens some areas on the west side of the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District that were closed under an earlier order, which terminates today, that restricted access to the entire district due to extreme fire danger. Monsoonal precipitation and additional containment of the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires have reduced the risk and allowed the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District to scale back the restricted area.

The always-popular Pecos Canyon corridor remains closed to hiking and camping under the new order, including all recreation sites from the Dalton Picnic Site north to Jacks Creek Campground, and there is no picnic or trailhead access within the canyon. Access to the Gallinas Canyon corridor is also off-limits.

Please do not plan to visit the following recreation sites:

·       Jacks Creek, Iron Gate, Panchuela, Cowles, Holy Ghost, Field Tract, El Porvenir and EV Long Campgrounds

·       Davis Willow and Dalton Dispersed Campgrounds

·       Dalton, Oak Flats and Baker Flats Picnic Sites

The Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon flood risk closure protects public health and safety during wildfire suppression repair operations. Suppression repair includes hazard tree felling, road repair and stabilization, heavy equipment use and fire rehabilitation activities. The order also protects public health and safety in the event of potential post-fire impacts, including debris flow and flash flooding. The order will be in effect until it is rescinded or until Dec. 31, 2022, whichever comes earlier.

The closure order prohibits members of the public from entering the restricted area, including all Forest Service lands, roads and trails, within an area on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District roughly defined by the southwestern edge of the forest boundary adjacent to the Village of Pecos, then following NM Route 63 north to Dalton Creek, following the creek northwest to the Pecos and Espanola District boundaries, then following the Pecos boundary north to the Pecos Wilderness, turning east and then north again to the junction of the Pecos Wilderness boundary and Beatty’s Trail 25, then following Trail 25 north to the Carson National Forest boundary and continuing northeasterly to the east boundary of the SFNF, then following the forest boundary south and then west back to the starting point at the Village of Pecos and NM Route 63.

Federal, state and local officers, firefighters and members of an organized rescue team, and any others authorized by Forest Service permit are exempt from the closure order. Violation of the closure order is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, imprisonment of not more than six months, or both.

The closure order and map are posted on the SFNF website, and copies are available at SFNF headquarters and the Pecos and Las Vegas Ranger Stations. For additional information, please contact the Pecos office at 505-757- 6121 or the Las Vegas office at 505-425-3534. All current closure orders are posted on the Alerts and Notices page of the website.

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SFNF Implements New Closure Order for Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fire Area

Pecos Canyon and Gallinas Canyon Corridors Remain Closed

SANTA FE, NM – July 5, 2022 – A new closure order that goes into effect today at 8 a.m. reopens some areas on the west side of the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District that were closed under an earlier order, which terminates today, that restricted access to the entire district due to extreme fire danger. Monsoonal precipitation and additional containment of the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires have reduced the risk and allowed the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District to scale back the restricted area.

The always-popular Pecos Canyon corridor remains closed to hiking and camping under the new order, including all recreation sites from the Dalton Picnic Site north to Jacks Creek Campground, and there is no picnic or trailhead access within the canyon. Access to the Gallinas Canyon corridor is also off-limits.

Please do not plan to visit the following recreation sites:

·       Jacks Creek, Iron Gate, Panchuela, Cowles, Holy Ghost, Field Tract, El Porvenir and EV Long Campgrounds

·       Davis Willow and Dalton Dispersed Campgrounds

·       Dalton, Oak Flats and Baker Flats Picnic Sites

The Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon flood risk closure protects public health and safety during wildfire suppression repair operations. Suppression repair includes hazard tree felling, road repair and stabilization, heavy equipment use and fire rehabilitation activities. The order also protects public health and safety in the event of potential post-fire impacts, including debris flow and flash flooding. The order will be in effect until it is rescinded or until Dec. 31, 2022, whichever comes earlier.

The closure order prohibits members of the public from entering the restricted area, including all Forest Service lands, roads and trails, within an area on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District roughly defined by the southwestern edge of the forest boundary adjacent to the Village of Pecos, then following NM Route 63 north to Dalton Creek, following the creek northwest to the Pecos and Espanola District boundaries, then following the Pecos boundary north to the Pecos Wilderness, turning east and then north again to the junction of the Pecos Wilderness boundary and Beatty’s Trail 25, then following Trail 25 north to the Carson National Forest boundary and continuing northeasterly to the east boundary of the SFNF, then following the forest boundary south and then west back to the starting point at the Village of Pecos and NM Route 63.

Federal, state and local officers, firefighters and members of an organized rescue team, and any others authorized by Forest Service permit are exempt from the closure order. Violation of the closure order is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, imprisonment of not more than six months, or both.

The closure order and map are posted on the SFNF website, and copies are available at SFNF headquarters

and the Pecos and Las Vegas Ranger Stations. For additional information, please contact the Pecos office at 505-757- 6121 or the Las Vegas office at 505-425-3534. All current closure orders are posted on the Alerts and Notices page of the website.

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