Dear Editor,

A reminder of the recent USFS order which closes all camping except for the numbered designated sites at West Magnolia. This closure remains in effect this summer. All camping (including RV’s, camper vans, roadside parkers, etc) is prohibited under this law. Also, all fires besides USFS steel fire rings at West Mag numbered sites are prohibited regardless of fire ban status. It will take all of us to help authorities enforce this law. Please take three minutes and call in every and all campers and/or campfires in the closure area (see map). Call the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line 303-441-4444 to report. Remember, posting on Facebook does not count, unless you have already called it into the sheriff!

ORDER NUMBER ARP-BRD-2020-03 PROHIBITIONS:

1. Camping within the Restricted Area outside of a designated Forest Service recreation site. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58 (e)

2. Being in the Restricted Area between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., unless camping or visiting a person camping in a designated Forest Service recreation site. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58 (u)  Except: Any person possessing a valid Colorado hunting/fishing license lawfully involved in hunting and harvesting game.

3. Parking or leaving a vehicle in violation of posted instructions. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58 (g)

4. Igniting, building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire (including fires fueled by charcoal or briquettes) outside of a permanent metal or concrete fire pit or grate that the Forest Service has installed and maintained at its developed recreation sites (campgrounds and picnic areas). 36 C.F.R. § 261.52 (a)

Thanks everyone for keeping our community safe by being eyes for our excellent law enforcement/fire department teams in Nederland and the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office.  

Kris Hess
Nederland

(Originally published in the April 8, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)