For Release: August 18, 2006
Contact: David Christy/John Scull Phone 916-985-4474
CA-CC-06-63

Cronan Ranch Draft Plan Available for Comment

The Folsom Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management today released the draft management plan and environmental assessment for the Cronan Ranch in El Dorado County. The 30-day public comment period will end September 20.

There will be an informal, open house on August 26 at Sutter's Mill School, 4801 Luneman Road, in Lotus where you can speak with a BLM staff member to present your opinions and suggestions. The staff will be available from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, to hear and record your comments. No appointments will be necessary - just stop by.

The Cronan Ranch, a 1,400-acre tract situated between the South Fork American River and state Highway 49, was acquired in 2005 by the BLM and opened to public recreational use. The Cronan Ranch parcel contains varied terrain which ranges from relatively flat to quite steep. Vegetation includes blue oak savannah, foothill woodland, and riparian areas. There are 12 miles of trails and recreational uses include hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, bird watching, and white water boating.

It took nine public meetings and one field trip over five-months to produce the draft plan. Most of the draft plan is the result of consensus by participants in the public planning meetings. The two main issues on which participants could not reach consensus were target shooting and hunting, requiring BLM to make the decision.

Under the draft plan, target shooting would be prohibited. Hunting would be restricted to deer during the general season, turkey in the fall season, and quail and mourning doves during their respective seasons.

"The draft management plan balances the many varied uses of the Cronan Ranch," said Jim Eicher, associate field manager.

For more information, contact the Folsom Field Office, 63 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630, or call (916) 985-4474.

-BLM-