The Middle Gila Canyons transportation and travel management planning area is made up of approximately 96,320 acres of public land administered by BLM’s Tucson Field Office, generally located northeast of Florence, and southwest of Superior, Arizona. A transportation and travel plan for the area is being developed to identify the BLM transportation system and establish route designations to adequately provide motorized and non-motorized access to public lands in the planning area. The route system will be designed to accommodate local travel needs, protect public safety and resources on the public lands, and to prevent or minimize conflict among users. The plan is needed in response to growing public demand for recreational and other uses in the area.

A comprehensive route inventory was conducted for the Middle Gila Canyons area in 2003, followed by a route evaluation in 2005. In 2007, additional public input was gathered for selecting the proposed alternative through a series of collaborative meetings convened by the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution. Information gathered through these exercises and evaluations, in addition to information from recent land use proposals, resource inventories/surveys, land use plan allocations and BLM comprehensive travel management policy and guidance, has led to the development of the Middle Gila Canyons Transportation and Travel Management Plan.

The BLM Tucson Field Office is releasing the Middle Gila Canyons Transportation and Travel Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (EA) for public review and comment. The plan and environmental documents will be available for a 60-day public review and comment period that will end May 8, 2009.

The BLM welcomes and encourages you to review and comment on the plan. Please refer to the Dear Reader letter (provided on the right) for directions on how to submit comments.

Questions? Please contact the BLM Tucson Field Office.
Phone: 520-258-7200, Email: TFOWEB_AZ@blm.gov