A total year around closure would be "arbitrary and capricious". Generally total closures result from a single resource opinion, poor management practices by decision makers, and a lack of public process and accountability. Unless the public speaks out on these issues it becomes too easy for a decision maker to place arbitrary overly restrictive closures that are based more on the personality of a single specialist providing them an "opinion" than it is a decision supported in facts, science, and policy.

As a generality you can often expect Biologists, Botanists, and Heritage specialists to push for the most restrictive closures they can. This can be particularly true when there is little or no professional accountability required by the decision maker or the public.

My recommendation would be to learn everything you can about eagle management in your area and the management and political atmosphere of the agency you are dealing with. To learn about eagle management in your area make a personal contact and visit to your local State and Federal Fish & Wildlife Service and learn everything you can on eagle management, when seasonal closures in your area are actually recommended. The find out who the decision maker/manager was that approved the closure. Make personal contacts in the agency and make personal visits to discuss your concerns with the decision maker and a recreation advocate.

If you are an access fund member, once you know your facts and contacts contact the access fund who can often can often provide helpful guidance and resource information, or will recommend people in your area who can be help.

Awesome post! The Poway crags are currently closed permenantly year round, and yes, this is "arbitrary and capricious." It is due to a local environmental group pushing for the most strict closure possible and shoveling misinformation toward land managers who are listening. The closure used to be seasonal, I believe. The Allied Climbers of San Diego (ACSD)are currently working to reverse this overly extreme closure, and trying to have it changed to be relevant and scientifically based. If anyone would like to check us out, please see www.alliedclimbers.org or come to one of our Tuesday meetings (see our website) where there are monthly updates on the situation as well as other access issues in the San Diego and So Cal area. We're always in need of more members and help, so please join!

Josh Higgins