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: Marta Call
928-333-6280
martaicall@fs.fed.us

Temporary Closure of Black Canyon Lake Day Use Facilities
Heber-Overgaard, AZ, September 4, 2015; The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Black Mesa Ranger District announces today that access to Black Canyon Lake, and the day use facilities at Black Canyon Lake will be closed beginning September 8, 2015 for public safety while crews are on site rehabilitating the facilities. The access road into Black Canyon Lake will be closed at its junction with Forest Road 86 throughout the construction period, which is anticipated to conclude by March 1, 2016. Visitors in the area also should anticipate heavy truck traffic on Forest Road 86 in the vicinity of the lake.
This project, implemented in coordination with the Arizona Game and Fish Department through its Arizona Boating Access Program (ABAP), includes rehabilitation of the parking lot, improvements to day use facilities for boaters, and installation of a new boat ramp that will allow visitors to launch when lake levels are low.
ABAP has been actively funding and improving boating facilities statewide since 1985, including many cooperative projects on the National Forests. ABAP is an outstanding example of a “user pays—user benefits” program. In this case, anglers and boaters are responsible for payment of fishing tackle excise taxes, motorboat fuel taxes, and import duties on tackle and boats. These monies are collected by the sport fishing industry, deposited in the Department of Treasury, and are allocated the year following collection to state game and fish agencies for sport fisheries and boating access projects. The benefits provided by these projects to recreational boaters complete the cycle between “user pays—user benefits.”
Please call Black Mesa Ranger District at 928-535-7300 for up-to-date information on this closure and access to the lake.
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
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8/31/15 – National Preparedness month begins this week. Every September we post more information regarding how to be prepared for various types of emergencies. While many types of natural disasters are different in the various regions of our country, one thing remains the same. YOU! You can make a plan with your family, friends and co-workers. You can build a kit to make sure you have enough supplies for at least three days. You can stay informed. Finally, YOU can get involved.

Over the next several weeks we will be posting messages here on what you can do to be prepared no matter what the emergency is, be it a natural disaster or something else.

Stay tuned! #NationalPreparedness

Lightning caused Little Giant Fire
August 25, 2015; 2:00 p.m.
Location:
• Springerville Ranger District on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests
• Four miles north of Greens Peak, Apache County

Start Date: August 22, 2015
Size: 8 acres
Cause: Lightning
Vegetation: Mixed conifer
Smoke: Dispersing to the north during the day, settling in local area drainages overnight.
Weather Forecast: Thunderstorms likely for next several days with some drying by the weekend.

Summary:
The lightning-caused Little Giant Fire was detected on Monday, August 24. The fire is primarily burning on a steep north aspect with heavy dead and down fuels and numerous snags. Smoke will be visible from Springerville as well as other local communities and area roads including Arizona State Highway 260, while the fire continues to burn. Local fire managers will monitor the fire while identifying opportunities to confine the fire with the least exposure to fire personnel and resource needs. Areas adjacent to the fire have been treated with combinations of commercial thinning and prescribed fire. There is currently no private property or resources being threatened and there are no road closures due to this fire. Fire personnel will continue to monitor the fire on a daily basis.

Fire Information:
Questions or concerns contact Cary Stock, Springerville Ranger District Assistant Fire Management Officer during regular business hours at (928) 333-6351, or by calling 311 or 928-333-3412.