Amador County – The USDA Forest Service announced Thursday that the seasonal closure of Eldorado National Forest dirt roads and trails to wheeled motorized vehicles will begin January 1, 2010. April 1 will be the earliest reopening date. “I will officially close the dirt routes on January 1,” said Eldorado National Forest Supervisor Ramiro Villalvazo. “These roads and trails are closed seasonally to protect water quality, reduce rutting and erosion, and to prevent damage to road drainage structures, such as water bars.” Villalvazo said last spring the closed routes dried out enough to be reopened on April 16. The seasonally closed routes are identified on a free-of-charge “Motor Vehicle Use Map” available at all Eldorado National Forest offices. More than 600 miles of surfaced roads in the Eldorado National Forest are not affected by this closure. “Regardless of roads and trails being closed, route conditions vary across the Forest,” said Villalvazo. “Visitors need to keep in mind that they will be held responsible for resource damage caused by their vehicles.” The seasonal closure does not affect the roads and trails in the Rock Creek Recreational Trails Area near Georgetown. The Rock Creek Area has its own wet weather closure process that’s been in place since 1999. Information about Rock Creek Area closures is available on the Eldorado National Forest website: www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.