Prescott National Forest has lifted seasonal closures around two bald eagle nesting areas at Lynx Lake and the Verde River south of Camp Verde.
The restrictions had been in place since December to protect nesting eagles. The Verde River closure covered a two-mile stretch of river corridor and included Forest Road 9709-R, which has now reopened to the public. At Lynx Lake, John’s Tank Trail Number 94 is open, with all closure signs and barricades removed.
Wildlife officials say bald eagles have used the Lynx Lake and Ladders nesting sites for the past 18 years, successfully raising young in eight of those years. However, monitoring through the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s NestWatch program found nesting attempts this year were unsuccessful.