High Water Updates to Utah's Forest Areas

SALT LAKE CITY, June 8, 2010 – Areas and roads still inundated by water have been temporarily closed off to the public. Forest crews continue to manage water flows and mitigate impacts.

Areas affected by swift, high water include Big & Little Cottonwood Canyons, American Fork Canyon, North Slope of the High Uintas, Mirror Lake Highway, Stansbury Mountain Range and the Weber River area near Kamas.

Forest officials emphasize for their own safety that visitors adhere to road closure signage or blockades. Travelers should not attempt to cross roads where water is flowing across. Visitors should use extreme caution when recreating around fast moving streams or rivers. Also, parents should keep children and pets close-by and insure they understand the dangers of fast moving water. In the affected areas, a limited number of campgrounds, picnic areas and trailheads are under emergency closures to protect public health and safety due to the high water and run-off.

Currently, these are:

 Ledgemere Picnic area, Big Cottonwood Canyon – Closed

 Temple Quarry Trailhead, Little Cottonwood Canyon – Closed

 Upper Narrows and Lower Narrows Loop Campgrounds, South Willow Canyon, Stansbury Mountains – Closed

 Sawmill Picnic Area, American Fork Canyon – Closed

 Ledgefork Campground, Weber River Area near Kamas – Closed

 Lower Provo River Campground, Mirror Lake Highway – Closed

 Soapstone Campground, Mirror Lake Highway – partially Closed

 Stillwater Campground, North Slope of Uintas – partially Closed

 Bear River Campground, North Slope of Uintas – Closed

 East Fork of the Bear, North Slope of Uintas – Closed

 Portions of the trail around Tibble Fork Reservoir are impassable.

For information on specific campground closures, contact campground concessionaire American Land & Leisure at (801) 226-3564.

Forest roads under emergency closure include:

 Mineral Basin Road closed just above Baker Fork in American Fork Canyon

 East Fork of the Blacks Fork, south of Uinta Junction, North Slope of the Uintas

 Access road to Hoop Lake Campground, North Slope of the Uintas.

 The Middle Beaver Creek Road to Fallen Creek on the North Slope of the Uintas

Information on emergency closures will be updated as information becomes available. For information on the North Slope road closures, contact the Evanston-Mt. View Ranger District at 307-789-3194 or 307-782-6555. Please note: The US Forest Service is responsible for managing National Forest System (NFS) roads. Closures on state or county roads crossing NFS lands are managed by their respective jurisdictions.