close
close

Headwaters of Indian Creek in Plumas NF and road closure in the accident area

Quincy, California, June 26, 2024 — To protect natural, tribal and cultural resources, for fire hazard, public health and sanitation reasons, and to preserve permitted special uses, the Plumas National Forest has adopted a forest ordinance prohibiting any person from being in any part of the Indian Creek Headwaters Area and has adopted a road closure ordinance for the Mount Hough Ranger District.

Headwaters of Indian Creek and road closure in the accident area

There is currently one incident of unauthorized group use in this area, approximately 5 miles north of Antelope Lake Recreation Area in Plumas County, just south of Lassen County.

“The Forest is concerned about the 500+ people already scattered camping in a concentrated area. We are always willing to work with any organization or group interested in revitalizing the National Forest. There are existing and projected impacts to natural and cultural resources and other authorized uses. Our priority is to maintain public health and safety and to appropriately manage public lands and natural resources,” said Chris Carlton, Plumas National Forest Superintendent.

The Forestry Ordinance is effective today and will be reviewed daily to determine the appropriate time to lift the ordinance so that public use of the area can resume.

Forest Service regulations require that all noncommercial group use (defined as activities that do not charge an entrance or participation fee and whose primary purpose is not the sale of goods or services), as well as all activities conducted on National Forest System lands involving 75 or more persons, must be approved by the Forest Service through a Special Noncommercial Group Use Permit (36 CFR 251.54).

For more information about the unauthorized noncommercial group use incident, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/rainbowgathering.

About the Forest Service: The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to maintain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages the 193 million acres of the National Forest System, assists non-federal forest owners with management, and maintains the largest forest research organization in the world.