DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE OKANOGAN-WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST WINTHROP, WA ORDER NO. 06-17-04-20-25

Special Closure

Pursuant to 16 USC § 551 and 36 CFR §§ 261.50(a) and 261.53(e), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Methow Valley Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. This Order is effective beginning January 1, 2021, until June 30, 2021.

PROHIBITIONS:

1. For public health and safety, the areas described below and depicted in the attached map, Exhibit A, are closed to any operation of a snowmobile or bike, including on trails.”

RCW 46.04.546 Snowmobile: a self-propelled vehicle that is capable of traveling over snow or ice that (1) utilizes as its means of propulsion an endless belt tread or cleats, or any combination of these or other similar means of contact with the surface upon which it is operated, (2) is steered wholly or in part by skis or sled type runners, and (3) is not otherwise registered as, or subject to, the motor vehicle excise tax in the state of .

RCW 46.04.545 Snow bike: a motorcycle or off-road motorcycle that has been modified with a conversion kit to include (1) an endless belt tread or cleats or similar means for the purposes of propulsion on snow and (2) a ski or sled type runner for the purposes of steering.

AREA CLOSURE DESCRIPTION:

This order prohibits operations of snowmobiles or snow bikes in the following areas: Area 1 (Blue Lake – SR 20 Hairpin): The closure area begins at the hairpin turn on State Route 20 in the southeast corner of T. 35 N., Range 18 E., Section 20. From this point, the closure area boundary travels clockwise east/northeast to a ridge in the northwest section of T. 35 N., Range 18 E., Section 21, then proceeds south/southeast along the ridge to the boundary of the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness in T. 35 N., Range 18 E., Section 28. From this point, the closure area boundary follows the wilderness boundary to the south portion of T. 35 N., Range 18 E., Section 29, then follows a ridge to the northwest to T. 35 N., Range 18 E., Section 30. From this point, the boundary proceeds along a ridge to the west to T. 35 N., Range 17 E., Section 25, then north to State Route 20 in T. 35 N., Range 17 E., Section 24. From there, the closure area boundary follows the south edge of, but excludes, State Route 20 to the east of the Blue Lake Trailhead entrance in T. 35 N., Range 17 E., Section

Any 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 6 months, or both. 16 USC § 551 and 18 USC §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581. 24, then travels southeast up a ridgeline to Libery Bell in T. 35 N., Range 18 E., Section 19. From this point, the boundary continues southeast along the ridgeline then south to the head of Spire Gully in T. 35 N., Range 18 E., Section 30, then along the northeast side of Spire Gully to its starting point at the hairpin turn.

Area 2 (Cutthroat Creek Basin): The closure area begins at the Cutthroat Lake Trailhead on Forest Service Road (FSR) 5310400, then proceeds clockwise to the southeast and south along a ridgeline in the west edge of T. 35 N., Range 18 E., Section 8 [to a point just west of the headwaters of an unnamed creek draining into Early Winters Creek. The boundary then turns southwest along the ridge and proceeds to Hinkhouse Peak in T. 35 N., Range 18 E., Section 18, then continues west along the ridge to T. 35 N., Range 17 E., Section 14. At this point, the boundary follows the ridge to the northwest then northeast to T. 35 N., Range 17 E., Section 2, then along the ridge to the northeast and east to T. 35 N., Range 18 E., Section 6. At this point, the boundary drops from the ridge to its starting point at the trailhead.

Area 3: (): The closure area begins at the top of Cutthroat Peak in the northwest portion of T. 35 N., Range 17 E., Section 23. From this location, the boundary proceeds clockwise north, then to the south portion of T. 35 N., Range 17 E., Section 13, then east along a ridgeline to the south portion of T. 35 N., Range 17 E., Section 13. The boundary then drops from the ridge to State Route 20 in the northeast portion of T. 35 N., Range 17 E., Section 24. The closure area boundary then proceeds west along the north edge, but excluding, State Route 20 to the southwest portion of T. 35 N., Range 17 E., Section 24. At this point, the boundary climbs to the northwest to its starting point on Cutthroat Peak.

State Route 20 will remain open in its entirety for use by over-snow motorized travel. See attached map, Exhibit A.

EXEMPTIONS:

Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Persons with a permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.

2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue force in the performance of an official duty.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 CFR Part 261, Subpart A.

Executed in Wenatchee, Washington this 28th day of December, 2020.

______KRISTIN M. BAIL Forest Supervisor Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Any 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 6 months, or both. 16 USC § 551 and 18 USC §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581. Assessment of Need and Enforcement Plan ORDER NO. 06-17-04-20-25

Prohibition Objective: The closure of the areas to motorized over-snow equipment is necessary to ensure public health and safety due to evidence of a higher chance of avalanche and conflicting winter recreation uses.

Public Notification Plan: Information associated with the closure will be made available to the public through media releases and Forest Service Offices and websites. This notice will be posted at affected trails and trailheads.

Enforcement Plan: This closure will be enforced by Forest Protection Officers and Law Enforcement Officers, who will emphasize education and use normal discretion in resolving violations.

Action Responsible Official

Prepare proposed order District Staff

Review proposed order District Ranger

Review and submit proposed order to OGC Patrol Captain

Approve proposed order Forest Supervisior

Post order in accordance with 36 CFR 261.51 District Staff Officer and Staff

If applicable, prepare news release for local media Public Affairs Officer describing the order and management objectives.

District staff will be responsible for the management and enforcement of this closure. Any enforcement District Staff actions will be within normal policies and procedures established by the LEI Patrol Captain for the zone.

Any 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 6 months, or both. 16 USC § 551 and 18 USC §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581. R. 17 E. R. 18 E. 6 This product is reproduced from information prepared by the 00 6 0 USDA,Forest Service or from other suppliers. The Forest Service 0 7 0 00 cannot assure the reliability or suitability of this information for a 0 0 0 0 particular purpose. The data and product accuracy may vary 0 0 0 0 6 7 due to compilation from various sources, including modeling and 28 27 26 25 30 29interpretation, and ma2y8 not meet National Map2 A7ccuracy Standards. 8 This information may be updated, corrected or otherwise modified 0 0 . 0 0 Tower without notification. . 0 0 N Ï N 7 For more information contact: Methow Valley RD

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0 0 000 CUTTHROAT 0 0 7 0 T.H. 4 7 0 0 0 Closure Area 2 Silver Star 9 10 11 12 Acres:7799 Mountain 7 8 9 10 Ï 0 00 0 8 0 0 7 20 Hinkhouse UV

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Area 3 T 5 0 0 Acres:1462 0 0 0 0 0 BLUE LAKE 5 0 0 0 21 22 23 24 T.H. 0 5 Whistler 19 20 0 21 22 8 0 0 Mountain Liberty Bell 0 RAINY PASS T.H. RAINY PASS 6 Ï Mountain Ï Closure lly u 00 Area 1 60 G 0 e Acres:4277 700 BRIDGE ir p 00 28 CREEK T.H. S 60 6000 27 26 25 29 28 27

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0 5 10 20 Miles Diablo Area Closure Exhibit A ! Closure Number 06-17-04-20-25 ! Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Legend Methow Valley RD 509-996-4000 Mazama ! Area Closed to State Highway and CAMPGROUND Snowmobiles & Route Snowbikes OBSERVATION SITE UV20 Trails National Forest PICNIC SITE Wilderness TRAILHEAD National Park Service

Stehekin ! Date: 1/5/2021 Total Closure Acres: 13,538