Forest Service Announces Trabuco Ranger District Road & Area Closures

Release Date: 

Effective immediately, portions of the Cleveland National Forest in, and around, the Silverado Fire burned area are closed to visitors until September 30, 2015.  The area closure is being implemented in order to address concerns related to resource protection, protection of public property, and public health and safety. 
 
The following roads will be closed:
• Maple Springs Road
• Silverado Motorway Trail
• A portion of the North Main Divide, from Bedford Road to Eagle Peak Road
 
This temporary closure will allow the burned area time to begin regrowth of the vegetation to allow stabilization which will decrease the probability of severe flash flooding and mud flows in the burned and adjoining areas.  The order will be periodically reassessed, and can be modified if, and when, appropriate. 
 
The Forest Service uses Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Teams to assess and identify post-wildfire threats to “values at risk” on National Forest System (NFS) lands so that immediate action can be taken, where appropriate, to manage unacceptable risks to life, property, water quality, and deteriorated ecosystems.  If you would like additional information on the BAER program, please visit the following links:
 
Local Resources
Since potential hazards to human life or safety are identified downstream from NFS lands, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Orange County Emergency Management Division are working with local residents to assist with watershed protection and disaster preparedness efforts.  For more information on how the NRCS can provide assistance please contact their local office at (951) 654-7139 or visit their website at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/ewp/.   
 
To learn how to better prepare yourself for emergencies in Orange County, please visit www.readyoc.com, or to sign up for the Orange County mass notification system go to www.alertoc.com.
 
 
About the U.S. Forest Service: 
The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation's clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.  Learn more at http://www.fs.usda.gov/cleveland
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