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Effective immediately, the Tahoe National Forest’s Truckee Ranger District will be closing and locking 14 existing gates to restrict motorized use on National Forest System roads and National Forest System motorized trails due to wet weather conditions.
Motorized vehicle National Forest System roads and trails during wet weather conditions causes degradation to soil and water resources. Road and trail soil conditions at this time are such that any amount of rain fall will saturate soils enough to rut and channel water. Motorized use during these wet weather conditions can contribute sediment to water courses and result in degradation of water quality. Additionally, motorized use when soils are wet can cause an increase in damage to the road or trail surface, resulting in a loss of short- and long-term road or trail sustainability. Short-term resource protection is required to protect water quality and soil conditions. Wet weather conditions are defined as conditions caused by freeze/thaw of soils, snow and/or rain events, and saturated soils after the snow/rain has stopped.
These actions will protect the quality of the water, protect the trail and roadbed from damage during the wet season, and reduce maintenance costs. This decision will be implemented immediately to reduce potential adverse effects to the resources. The gate closures will continue until December 31, 2022, when the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) seasonal use restriction for these National Forest System roads and trails takes effect, unless conditions allow opening and unlocking of the gates on an earlier date. Conditions will be assessed weekly, and gates will be opened and unlocked when conditions improve. All or some of the gates depicted in Exhibit A shall remain closed until those conditions are no longer present. Driving on any National Forest System roads in the district is not advised and strongly discouraged at this time, regardless of the presence of a gate.
For more information regarding gate closures on the Truckee Ranger District, please contact the Truckee Ranger District office at 530-587-3558.
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