U.S. Forest Service
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests
30 S Chiricahua Drive
Springerville, AZ 85938

Web: www.fs.usda.gov/asnf
Twitter: @A_SNFs
www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnf

News Release
Media Contact: Teresa Gallagher
928-333-6263
teresaagallagher@fs.fed.us

Temporary closure of Black Mesa District road due to weather
Heber-Overgaard, AZ, November 29, 2016; The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Black Mesa Ranger District announced today the closure of Forest Road 105 leading to Woods Canyon Lake due to snow and very slippery conditions. The road is closed just past Aspen Campground. The public can still access the lake via the walking trail. The road will re-open when weather conditions improve.
Please call the Black Mesa Ranger District at 928-535-7300 for up-to-date information on this closure.
For more information about the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests go to www.fs.usda.gov/asnf. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs and Twitter at @A_SNFs.

11-26-16  3:45 – A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for portions of northern Arizona for late Sunday morning through Monday morning. Please see attached for details.

Narrative: Two waves of winter weather will affect northern Arizona late Saturday through early Monday. The first wave is expected Saturday night through Sunday morning. The second, more intense wave is forecast Sunday afternoon through Monday morning. The second wave is what the winter weather advisory is issued for.

The period of heaviest snow is forecast from 1pm Sunday afternoon – 11pm Sunday night. Please see attached snow table for detailed point forecast snow amounts.

11/21/16 – The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ Springerville Ranger District will be burning slash piles on November 21, 2016. The legal description is T6N, R27E Sections 2, 3, 10, 11 & 12, and T6N, R28E Sections 8 & 17 as well as T7N 28E Sections 31 & 32. Scattered piles will be burned across roughly 500 acres of forest land. Ignition is planned for one day only and smoke impact is anticipated along Highway 273, Highway 261 and Forest Road 409. In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the pile burn as smoke may reduce visibility in the area.

Prescribed burning provides many benefits and is essential to maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. It provides habitat diversity, recycles plant nutrients into the soil and encourages new growth for a variety of plants used by wildlife and livestock. Prescribed burning of forest ground fuels also reduces the threat of large scale wildfire impacts to private lands. Crews will be on scene from ignition until there is no longer a threat of escape from the project boundaries. Prescribed fire operations are subject to cancelation due to unfavorable weather conditions.

For questions or concerns please contact the Springerville Ranger District at (928) 333-6200. Also, check out our website at: www.fs.usda.gov/asnf or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs/ or check out Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5062/.