Huachuca Mountain road closures...150 miles. Need comments.

neb · Jan 12, 2012

www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=36560
The Forest Service has proposed closing 150+ miles of roads in the Huachuca Mountains Coronado National Forest. The comment period goes into February and the closures are planned for early 2013. Most closures south of the Huachucas to the border (Unit 35A) are roads that have been present for decades and are used by hunters and Border Patrol extensively. I would encourage anyone with an interest to review and comment on this plan. Absent a dramatic response from those concerned with these closures it will happen. I have been hunting this area since the mid seventies and have seen dramatic closures of access on both sides of the Huachucas from Wilderness designation; Arizona trail closure and administrative blockages by the Forest Service. I would strongly encourage opposition to these proposed closures.
Thanks,
Nathan Beneze

m_freeman · Jan 12, 2012

this year they close to vehicles, wonder what they will close next year?

neb · Jan 24, 2012

I thought I would send a follow up note after my contacts with the Border Patrol today.
I called the Border Patrol today and struggled through 3 underlings to get to the ?Public Information Officer? (at 520-748-3000) at the District Office of the Tucson District to ask about the BP input and policy/advisement on the proposed Forest service road closures in the Huachucas and access issues for the ranch road. You?d think I was calling to ask if the were seeing Martians....... the P.I.O. said ? I don't know anything about proposed road closures or the Forest Service plan? and ?This is the first I've heard about this plan? and several times referred me to the Forest Service for any questions. I left my number with her and asked if she could check on this issue and get back to me.
None of the people I talked to would or could give any info at all. The thought that the Border Patrol would not be intimately involved in the closures of 150 miles of roads within 20-30 miles of the Border is mind boggling to me. Maybe I just hit an isolated pocket of unawareness, but of the 4 people I spoke to , none would comment or acted like they knew anything about the proposed road closures.
Nathan Beneze