PIUTE MOUNTAINS FOREST
ORDER IN EFFECT
LAKE ISABELLA, CA ... Sequoia National Forest
Supervisor Tina Terrell has issued a Forest Order 09-04 (see
Forest Order at bottom of this page) prohibiting the
possession of or using a motor vehicle off national Forest
System roads within the Piute area. Forest order 09-04 has
been put into place to prevent resource damage in the Piute
area. This Forest Order will remain in effect through May 1,
2010. The boundary of the Piute Area covered under this
order incorporates the Piute Fire within the Sequoia
National Forest. The closure area is identical to the
closure instituted last fall immediately to the fire. The
area was open back up to Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) use upon
termination of the previous order. Monitoring and
re-evaluation of conditions has shown that additional
protection and mitigation measures are necessary to protect
the resource.
All motor vehicles, including OHV’s are restricted to roads
only. Some roads may also be closed in the area if excessive
resource damage exists or they are deemed unsafe for public
use.
The exemptions to this order are: land owners or lessees of
private land within the Piute area to the extent to gain
access to their land, persons who reside on private land
within the Piute area to the extent necessary to gain
access to their residences, and any federal, state, or
member of an organized rescue or firefighting force, in the
performance of an official duty.
For more information on the Forest Order please call the
Lake Isabella Visitor Center at (760) 379-5646 or the
Kernville Ranger Station at (760) 376-3781.
The public is reminded
of the dry conditions and high risk of fire. If you have a
campfire or any open flame please be careful and be sure to
get a
California campfire permit.
CAMPFIRE PERMIT PAGE:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/passespermits/campfire_permit/campfire-index.html
Piute Area Closure Map below
ORDER NO. 09-04
SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST
KERN RIVER RANGER DISTRICT
MOTOR VEHICLE RESTRICTIONS
Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(a) and (b), and to
prevent resource damage, the following act is prohibited
within the Piute Area of the Sequoia National Forest. This
Order is effective from July 16, 2009 through May 1, 2010.
Possessing or using a motor vehicle off National Forest
System roads within the Piute Area. The boundary of the
Piute Area begins at the intersection of Piute Mountain Road
(County Road 501) and the southern boundary of the Sequoia
National Forest in Section 2, Township 29 South, Range 33,
East, Mount Diablo Base and Meridian; then continues west
along the forest boundary to the southwest corner of Section
2; then continues north along the forest boundary to the
southeast ¼ corner of Section 34, Township 28 South, Range
33 East; then continues west along the forest boundary to
the southwest corner of Section 34; then continues north
along the forest boundary to the southeast corner of Section
28; then continues west along the forest boundary to the
southwest corner of Section 28; then continues north along
the forest boundary to the northwest corner of Section 16;
then continues east along the section line between sections
9, 10, 15, and 16 to the northeast corner of Section 15;
then continues north along the section line between sections
2, 3, 10, and 11 (Township 28 South, Range 33 East) and
sections 34 and 35 (Township 27 South, Range 33 East) to the
northwest corner of Section 35, Township 27 South, Range 33
East; then continues east along the section line between
sections 25, 26, 35, and 36 to the northeast corner of
Section 36, then continues south along the section line
between sections 36 (Township 27 South, Range 33 East) and
31 (Township 27 South, Range 34 East) to the northeast
corner of Section 6, Township 28 South, Range 34 East, then
continues east along the section line between sections 6
(Township 28 South, Ranger 34 East) and 31 (Township 27
South, Range 34 East) to the southwest corner of Section 32,
Township 27 South, Range 34 East; then continues north along
the section line between sections 19, 20, 29, 30, 31, and 32
to the northwest corner of Section 20; then continues east
along the section line between sections 15, 16, 17, 20, 21,
and 22 to the northeast corner of Section 22; then continues
south along the section line between sections 22 and 23 to
the northwest corner of Section 26; then continues east
along the section line between sections 23, 24, 25, and 26
to the northeast corner of Section 25; then continues south
along the forest boundary to the southeast corner of Section
36; then continues east along the forest boundary to the
southeast corner of Section 1, Township 28 South, Range 34
East; then continues south along the forest boundary to the
southeast ¼ corner of the northeast ¼ of Section 36; then
continues west along the forest boundary to the northwest ¼
corner of the southeast ¼ of Section 35; then continues
south along the forest boundary to the intersection of the
forest boundary with Piute Mountain Road (County Road 501)
in the northeast corner of Section 2, Township 29 South,
Range 34 East; then west along Piute Mountain Road
(County Road 501) to its intersection with the forest
boundary at the starting point, as shown on the attached
map. For purposes of this order, a wheelchair is not
considered to be a motor vehicle. 36 CFR 261.56.
Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(e), the following persons are
exempt from this Order:
1. Any Federal, State or local officer, or member of an
organized rescue or fire-fighting force in the performance
of an official duty.
2. Owners or lessees of private land within the Piute Area
to the extent necessary to gain access to their land.
3. Persons who reside on private land within the Piute Area
to the extent necessary to gain access to their residences.
4. Persons with a permit from the Forest Service
specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or
omission.
This prohibition is in addition to the general prohibitions
in 36 CFR Part 261, Subpart A.
Done at Porterville, California this 15th day of July, 2009.
/s/ TINA J.TERRELL
TINA J. TERRELL
Forest Supervisor, Sequoia National Forest
A violation of this prohibition is punishable by a fine of
not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an
organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months,
or both. 16 USC 551 and 18 USC 3559,
3571, and 3581.
