The restricted use areas are defined by permanent closure orders enacted on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest from 1993 to the present. They comprise a spectrum of restricted uses meant to protect sensitive natural areas like watersheds and wilderness areas, minimize over-use and degradation of highly trafficked recreation sites on the Forest, and reduce the incidence of human caused wildfires. The areas in this data were digitized using the original closure order descriptions and maps as references, and by using boundaries from existing data that also represented certain restriction boundaries such as wilderness areas. In some cases where the closure order described specific distance restrictions around types of features such as water sources or roads and trails, the area was defined in broad terms, i.e, within a wilderness area or specific drainage. In other cases, if the closure order specified a restriction distance from features such as certain lakes or a road or trail, the feature was buffered by that specific distance. Some areas were also defined by elevation. Unless otherwise noted, all the areas were clipped to the current Forest boundary and/or ownership data. In some instances this changed the description of the area slightly as land ownership changed over time. Because of time and the circumstances the closure orders were enacted to address, some restricted use areas overlap one another in this data. For more information or questions about specific restrictions per individual closure order, please contact the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest's Public Affairs Office.