That is what I thought. In the original plan, the FS claimed it wasn't so. But it looks like in the revised plan they are at least going to keep one crossing open. Although they still claim that the roads end on opposite sides of the river.
Here is the final decision:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/verde_crmp/decision-notice.pdf
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/verde_crmp/verde-final.html
In the end, it looks like they are still closing the 502/16 crossing, which goes to Bloody Basin, but they are leaving the 57/502 crossing open, although they still say the road terminates on both sides, so they will probably close that one as well some day.
Here is what it says about these road closures:
As described in Chapter 4 of the EA, a roads analysis was conducted to evaluate access needs and environmental impacts. The following changes based on that analysis will be made to each forest’s transportation plan. The first road access to the Childs area was via FR 57 and a river ford to the power plant site. Forest Road 502 was constructed at a later date and provided more reliable access because it did not require fording the river. Crossings undoubtedly occurred at the FR 16 site, but the road was not constructed until Western Area Power Authority (WAPA) constructed the Pinnacle Peak – Flagstaff 345 kV power lines in the 1960s. Although the crossings are not part of the road systems and are not maintained, many people cross the river at these locations. Those using the crossings have included WAPA and their contractors, owners of private property on the west side of the river, various agencies’ personnel, and off-road recreation users. As summarized in Chapter 3 of the EA, the need to address road and travel management was because of the detrimental effects some roads and unauthorized cross-country travel were having on wildlife and fish habitat, and scenery. Specifically, vehicles have been creating new river crossings and have been driving up and down the riverbanks, impacting riparian vegetation, streambank stability, wildlife habitat, and water quality. This activity at the FR 16 crossing has led to motorized intrusions into Mazatzal Wilderness. Alternative 3 would have resulted in the construction of barriers to prevent access to the FR 16/FR 9206Y crossing and closure to public use of the FR 57/FR 502 crossing. Many of the comments we received supported these closures. However, we also received many comments that expressed concern on how these actions would negatively affect recreational access to the river, limit use of historic and traditional off-highway vehicle (OHV) routes, affect access in emergency situations, and favor permittees over public users. Several of those who favored leaving the crossings open suggested an alternative of constructing bridges or concrete fords. We have considered this alternative and decided that construction, and reconstruction or maintenance needs following the frequent flood events, would result in a significant increase in effects to ORVs over the level occurring with the current numbers of crossings. This alternative would also affect the free-flowing characteristics of the river. In an attempt to balance ORV protection, recreation access demands, and permittee or administrative access needs, we decided to provide for public accessacross the river from FR 57 to FR 502. Each of these roads will terminate outside the flood plain. Turnarounds and signing will be provided. Special orders prohibiting travel off designated roads will be worded to exempt cross-country travel from the terminus of one road to the terminus of the other. We have supplemented the environmental analysis and have determined that vehicular use of this crossing will not result in significant impacts to the environment or substantially affect the ORVs. However, we will monitor the effects from use of this crossing and will take further action if substantial detrimental effects to ORVs result. We will construct barriers to prevent access to the FR 16/FR 9206Y crossing, as described in Alternative 3, since that is where most of the damage to ORVs from off-road vehicular travel is occurring. OHV users wanting to complete a loop route can use FR 1676 on the west side of the river to travel between FR 16 and FR 57.
with all the local points of interest on them. Seem to be fairly accurate, too.
Authored by some fella named J Shotts?:shotts: Damn good work in my book!!
that the younguns don't know about.
John
