The Forest Service has announced that, effective Dec. 1, forest roads with seasonal closure gates will be closed until spring, due to anticipated wet conditions. Once the seasonal closure gates are locked, passenger vehicle travel will not be allowed on these roads until drier conditions return. The road closures are normal for this time of the year, occurring typically at the end of personal use fuelwood gathering season, scheduled to end on Nov. 30.

The routine seasonal road closures are necessary to provide for public safety, and to protect the rain soaked and snow-covered roads from wheel-ruts, erosion, and washouts. Road gates will remain temporarily closed in specific Forest locations, until drier conditions render roads passable without causing damage to resources. Specific roads may be closed prior to Dec. 1, if heavy precipitation occurs, or may be left open longer if fair weather continues.

Visitors traveling on forest roads that remain open are asked to adjust their driving to current weather and road conditions, and use defensive driving techniques. Additionally, visitors are reminded to always stay alert for the unexpected, including other vehicles and livestock, as well as rocks, slides, and washouts. Specific road information follows:

•Cottonwood Road (1N04) on the Mi-Wok and Groveland Ranger Districts remains open through the winter from Tuolumne to Cherry Lake. However, users are advised that the road is not maintained for winter travel and might be obstructed by rocks, snow and ice. With the exception of road 2N10 (leading through private property owned by Sierra Pacific Industries), all Forest Service roads to the south of Cottonwood Road will remain ungated and open, unless inclement weather, rocks in the roadway, or downed trees mandate their closure. Minor spur roads accessing the Jawbone Lava Flats will be seasonally gated to provide protection and habitat for wintering deer herds.

•Lumsden Road (1N10) on the Groveland Ranger District is currently open, and will remain open until weather and road conditions make the road unsafe for travel.

•Beardsley Road (5N02) on the Summit Ranger District is now managed and maintained by Tri-Dam, December to April for Beardsley Road information during this period call the Tri–Dam Project at 965-3214 or 3996.

Specific road information may be obtained by calling Stanislaus National Forest ranger district offices at telephone numbers listed on the forest Web site at www.fs.fed.us/r5/stanislaus.