Sycamore Creek area closure due to possible flooding,
result of Sunflower fire last month
Sycamore Creek Area, Tonto National Forest
PHOENIX (June 25, 2012) –
Tonto National Forest officials announced today an area closure
due to impending monsoonal activity which poses the possibility of severe flooding danger in the Sycamore Creek area.
“In
the next few weeks it is possible that several areas on the Tonto
National Forest will suffer the extreme
effects of summer flooding. One of those areas is the Sunflower burn
area, approximately 17,500 acres, which is the upper watershed for
Sycamore Creek,” stated Gary Hanna, Mesa
District Ranger.
The Sunflower fire began last month and is currently 80 percent contained.
“This closure is to provide for the public’s health and safety in the event of extensive flooding.
In the burn
area, there is little if any ground vegetation left to absorb and hold
back rainwater. When heavy rain falls over burnt steep terrain, the
water quickly rushes
downhill carrying loose soils, ash, and debris.”
The area being immediately closed is the Sycamore Creek area, an extension of the already established Sunflower
fire closure area which includes the upper section of Sycamore Creek.
The restricted area includes all National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within the exterior boundaries
as described as follows:
West
of Hwy. 87: From the junction of State Highway 87 and Forest Road (FR)
1847 west following FR 1847 to the
forest boundary, north along the forest boundary to the Mesa Ranger
District boundary, northeast along the Mesa Ranger District boundary to
FR 3456, then east following FR 3456 to Hwy. 87, and Hwy. 87 south to
the junction of Hwy. 87 and FR 1847.
East of Highway 87: Forest Road 1704 is closed.
Residence owners, lessees of land, and holders of Forest Service special use authorizations within
the restricted area may use Forest Systems Road as ingress and regress from their property.
Forest visitors are advised to check the forest webpage for annaouncements and closure orders or call ahead
to the districts before planning recreation events on the forest in order to avoid trespass into closure areas.
Forest officials continue to urge caution to visitors who encounter flooded roadways by reminding them of
the the Maricopa County Department of Transportation slogan, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”
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