SFNF Issues Seasonal Closure Order for Forest Roads on Abiquiu Land Grant

By SFNF 

The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) yesterday issued a closure order for the entire length of Forest Road (FR) 418 and the segments of Forest Roads (FR) 31 and 27 that cross the Abiquiu Land Grant on the Española Ranger District.

The closure order, which is in effect from Dec. 19, 2019, to April 1, 2020, unless it is rescinded earlier, is intended to protect SFNF and Abiquiu Land Grant resources, including roads, soils and vegetation, that could be damaged by use during the wet winter season.

The specific areas affected by this closure order are:

• FR 31 where it passes through the Abiquiu Land Grant across SFNF land to the private land boundary in Section 7 (T. 22 N, R. 6 E)
• FR 27 where it passes through the Abiquiu Land Grant from the junction of FR 31 west to the cattle guard at the boundary between the land grant and SFNF lands
• The entire length of the FR 418 loop from the junction with FR 31

Federal, state and local officers, members of an organized rescue team or firefighting force, landowners accessing their private property and any others authorized by permit are exempt from the closure order.

Violation of the closure order is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, imprisonment of not more than six months, or both.

The closure order and map are posted on the SFNF website. You may also call the Española Ranger District at 505-753-7331 for more information.