Inyo National Forest closes roads due to storm damage
Bishop, Calif., April 19, 2023 — To protect public safety and natural resources, the Inyo National Forest is closing several lower-elevation dirt roads this week due to severe storm damage and prediction of spring snowmelt runoff impacting them further.
The following roads will be closed via official Forest Closure Order starting April 20, 2023:
- Forest Road 6S02 (Silver Canyon Road, closed at Forest boundary)
- Forest Road 6S01 (Wyman Canyon Road, closed at Forest boundary)
- Forest Road 7S10 (Coyote Flat/Valley Road from Bishop, closed just past kiosk)
- Forest Road 9S19 (Sugarloaf Road, closed at Baker Creek)
- Forest Roads 32E311, 32E303, 32E307, 32E302 (area west of Warren Bench, accessible from Sugarloaf or Glacier Lodge Roads)
Maps for these roads are available on the Inyo National Forest’s Motor Vehicle Use Maps, however separate detailed and specific maps are available on the website under “Alerts and Notices.”
Coyote Flats area map
Silver Canyon area map
Forest officials want to remind the public of the following:
- Going around closed roads, boulders, blockades, or driving over carsonite posts or through ruts creates further resource damage and also endangers the traveler and others. Not to mention, this creates a further backlog of repair work for our staff, which could cause the road closures to last longer.
- Region-wide, the road damage repair is so extensive that repairs may not be done in a timely enough manner before reopening. Therefore, if a road appears to be fine to drive but it is officially closed, it is imperative that you stay off it.
- Travelling over snow-covered roadways results in water flowing down ruts created by the vehicles, causing road damage and erosion.
- Violation of entering closed roads is punishable by a fine of $5,000 or less for an individual, $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for six months or both.
“We know everyone is anxious to get outside and start enjoying their springtime adventures on the Inyo, and we are doing everything we can to make repairs and re-open roads as conditions allow,” said Acting District Ranger Scott Kusumoto. “Additionally, if you come upon any other road washout, erosion, or other damage, play it safe and turn around instead of potentially endangering yourself and damaging sensitive resources.”
The order for these road closures will be terminated as soon as road conditions allow for safe travel, either when snow melt is complete or when damaged sections are repaired.
Inyo National Forest staff have been working with other local organizations to determine the extent of damage, or if other obstacles such as severe erosion cuts, rockslides, tree blowdown, etc. has impacted forest roads and infrastructure. Unknown obstacles currently hidden under snow will continue to be evaluated as the spring and summer seasons progress. There is a high possibility that additional roads will be closed in the future.
Other land management agency roads that lead into Forest Service roads may also be closed:
- Inyo County: ready.inyocounty.us/pages/2023-storm-response
- Los Angeles Department of Water and Power: ladwpeasternsierra.com
- BLM – Bishop Field Office: www.blm.gov/office/bishop-field-office
- CalTrans: quickmap.dot.ca.gov
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Years of INF not maintaining their roads is coming back to bite them and now the public has to pay the price. Their inability to maintain the roads over the past few years has compounded the issues mixed with the rain.
DirtNinja
Maybe it’s Mother Nature’s way of giving the forests,Wildlife and wilderness a break from these recent tourist tsunami’s we’ve been having up here, especially the last couple years after the pandemic..
If they can’t get there,they can’t do the usual damage and leaving their trash behind for others to clean up after..
No, what it really means is that the irresponsible off roaders will just go around the closures or through them creating more damage to the landscape, needlessly creating more work for the folks fixing the roads.
Skeptic
Agree…some will, maybe a LOT will, since most off roeaders,especially the SouCal ones have little reguard for the land and environment..
But the closed roads will keep many, maybe most out of the areas and closures…
Keeping some out is better than none…
????
Support leaders, (local, state and fed) who will push for funding our public lands. Our National Forests have been severely under budgeted for years. I’m certain the INF would welcome the opportunity to provide the staffing and resources necessary to better address our Forest’s many needs.
Underfunded,like everything else.
But keep giving huge tax cuts to greedy corporations and billionaires. Some very misinformed and over-propaganzed people actually believe those tax cuts generate more tax revenue. I’ll bet that they must also believe in the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.
$10K fine, 6 months in jail. The beatings will continue until morale improves.