The following is a press release issued by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service:
Mendocino National Forest officials have issued a wet weather trail closure, Forest Order No. 08-21-07, beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. Temporary wet weather trail closures go into effect when two inches of rainfall occur within a 24-hour period or when the soils are saturated. The wet weather off-highway vehicle (OHV) trail closures restrict the use of OHV trails when conditions are too wet to sustain use without causing soil loss, impacting water quality, damaging trail tread and putting public safety at risk.
These limited duration closures will remain in place until no measurable precipitation is recorded within 48 consecutive hours. By issuing these closures as precipitation events occur, the Forest provides for public safety, protects natural resources during and after storms and allows time for trails to dry out prior to resuming use. The restrictions may be implemented anytime during this fall and winter season through June 2022.
Trail users can check the precipitation data online before traveling to the Forest: https://bit.ly/RAWSdata. Look at MNF02 Portable (Howard Mill) rain gauge on the Upper Lake Ranger District and MNF03 Portable (Fouts Springs) on the Grindstone Ranger District. If Howard Mill rain gauge is inoperable, the Konocti location will be used for the Upper Lake Ranger District.
When closures occur, information will be posted on the Forest website and social media, https://twitter.com/mendocinonf and https://www.facebook.com/MendocinoNF/.
The restrictions prohibit the use of motor vehicles on National Forest System trails within the Upper Lake and Grindstone Ranger Districts on the Mendocino National Forest pursuant to 36 CFR 261.55(b).
All forest orders, including Forest Order No. 08-21-07 (wet weather closure), are posted here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mendocino/home/?cid=FSEPRD509485.
