Area Closure due to tornado damage

Associated Documents

Forest Order

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a), the following acts or omissions are prohibited on tornado damaged portions of lands, roads, and trails located within the designated areas located in Pulaski and Laurel Counties, KY and administered by the London Ranger District of the Daniel Boone National Forest. The area is depicted in the map(s) attached hereto and incorporated herein.

Person(s) are prohibited from occupying or using the portion of the tornado damaged area identified by the following written description and boundary demarcations as outlined in the provided map. The Closure area encompasses approximately 22,000 acres surrounding the assessed resource damage. The area is demarcated by state highway, county road, forest road, river, and creek corridors that serve as existing natural boundaries. Additionally, multiple roads and hiking trails will be temporarily inaccessible under this temporary closure order.

As depicted in the attached map, the boundary of the closure begins at the intersection of Cane Creek and Cold Hill Roads and includes the forest lands west of Cold Hill Rd until continuing west along Sinking Creek at the intersection of Cold Hill Road and Sinking Creek. The boundary continues to follow Sinking Creek to the confluence of Sinking Creek and the Rockcastle River. At the confluence, the boundary follows the Rockcastle River corridor south until it makes a northerly turn to align with Stepping Rock Ridge Road. The boundary follows Stepping Rock Ridge Road west until the junction with Hwy 1675. The boundary then continues south on Hwy 1675 and crosses an intersection changing it to Hwy 1003. The boundary continues south along Hwy 1003 until the intersection with Hwy 192. The boundary then follows Hwy 192 in an easterly direction until changing to a northerly trajectory while following Old Bee Rock Road off Hwy 192. The boundary then continues until reaching the Rockcastle River where it follows the river corridor to the confluence of Cane Creek. It then shifts to follow the Cane Creek corridor in an easterly direction until it terminates at the intersection of Cane Creek and Cold Hill roads.

Additionally, Cane Creek Road will be closed beyond where it intersects Cold Hill Road and Dog Divide Road will be closed starting at the intersection of the road with Sinking Creek. Complete trail closures include The Rockcastle Narrows Trail and the Winding Stair Gap Trail. Partial trail segment closure of the Sheltowee Trace Trail will begin at Vanhook Falls (37.022953, -84.282789) on the southern end and the intersection of the Sheltowee Trace Trail and Sinking Creek (37.108391, -84.236430) will be the closure location on the northern portion. (36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e))

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following individuals are exempt from this order:

• Any authorized person engaged in official administrative duties regarding national forest administration.
• Individuals owning lands or residences located within the closure area that have been provided with FS Form-7700-48 signed by an authorized Forest Service official.
• Any person with a special use permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission or written determination by an authorized Forest Service official that permit is not required.
• Any federal, state, or local officer, or member of an organized emergency management organization in performance of an official duty.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 C.F.R. §§ 261.1-261.23 (Subpart A); other Orders currently in effect pursuant to 36 C.F.R. §§ 261.50-261.58 (Subpart B); and all other Regional Regulations at 36 C.F.R. § 261.70 (Subpart C). 

These prohibitions shall remain in effect from May 1, 2025, until two (2) years after the date of execution or until terminated by an authorized Forest Service official, whichever occurs first.

Executed in Winchester, Kentucky, this 25th of May 2025.

/s/ H. SCOTT RAY
Forest Supervisor
Daniel Boone National Forest

Violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.

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