DIAMOND BAR CATTLE COMPANY

TEMPORARY AREA CLOSURE IMPLEMENTED FOR DIAMOND BAR ALLOTMENT

Silver City, NM – Effective, Saturday, February 28, 2004, at 8:00 a.m., a temporary public closure of the Diamond Bar allotment, Gila National Forest, will be re-implemented to allow the contractor to start preparations for the removal and impoundment of the unauthorized livestock. “After a couple of delays, we are now prepared for the removal and impoundment to start as soon as the contractor is set up,” says Wilderness District Ranger Annette Chavez.

To conduct the livestock removal in the most safe and efficient manner for everyone involved, Ranger Chavez says the area closure helps us to provide for public safety, protection of property, and minimizes public activities that may hinder the gathering and removal activities. “We will periodically review the area closure to determine its usefulness,” adds Ranger Chavez.

The area closure prohibits all entry along Forest Road 150 below the private lands at Wall Lake (township 11S, range 12 W, section 15), south to the south rim of Rocky Canyon (township 14S, range 11 W, section 8), and all the area within the 147,000-acre Diamond Bar allotment. Exceptions to the area closure include private property owners who will be allowed to travel to and from their properties; any federal, state or local Officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty; or persons with a permit specifically authorized by the Gila National Forest.

Trails that will be closed include:

---trail #40 in Diamond Creek including Middle Diamond Creek from the junction of Forest Road 150 to the junction of the Continental Divide trail #74
---Continental Divide Trail #74 from the junction of Trail #40 south to the junction of Trail # 74
---trail #74 to the junction of Forest Road 150 and encompassing trails #75, 76, 75A, 72, 481, 73, 707, 68, 69, 67, and 308
---to the west of Forest Road 150: trails include trail #803, 700, 95, 94, 716, 708, 713, East Fork of the Gila River from private property at Trails End Ranch to the private land at Lyons Lodge

Closure of the land area includes the area described as the Diamond Bar Allotment:

---on the northwest side from the confluence of Adobe Canyon and the East Fork Gila River to Forest Road 225 easterly to the junction of Forest Road 18 north along Forest Road 18 for approximately 1/2 mile, then continuing east to Forest Road 159
---from Forest Road 150, east to the southwest slope of Round Mountain
south along the Crest Trail to Diamond Peak and on to Reeds Peak
---the south border lays along trail #74 to Signboard Saddle to a cattle guard in Rocky Canyon and Forest Road 150
---continuing west to the north rim area of Apache Creek across the lower end of Black Canyon to the East Fork of the Gila River
---the west boundary is the East Fork of the Gila River north to Adobe Canyon

An area closure map is available for review at local Ranger District offices.