2017 The Year in Review | Public protests keep forest road open

    In the summer of 2017 many residents of Carbon and Emery County united to oppose a U.S. Forest Service plan to temporarily close the Nuck Woodward Road in the fall, concerned that it would lead to more road closures on the Manti-La Sal National Forest. The Carbon County Commission also opposed the closure. The resolution noted Carbon County has historically maintained the road and considers it to be an official county road.
    Also known as Forest Road 0110, the road connects the town of Clear Creek with Huntington Canyon. Following the Seeley wild fire in 2012, it was blocked off about a mile above the Stuart Guard Station and designated as a non-motorized trail. The road was subsequently reopened to motorized use in July 2016 after work by the Carbon County Road Department under an agreement with Emery County.
    The Ferron District of the Manti-La Sal National Forest had proposed the closure of a five-mile segment of the road from early September until snowfall restricted access. Forest Service officials said the proposal was intended to provide a quiet place for visitors to hunt and hike, giving non-motorized users and motorized users access to the road segment at different times of the year.
    After considering the public opposition, the Ferron District announced its withdrawal of the proposed seasonal restriction pending more research and public comment.