For Release: Wednesday, December 13, 2000
Contact: Barb Perkins 303-239-3670
Dennis Zachman 303-239-3883

BLM Adopts Recreation Management Guidelines for Colorado's Public Lands

As Colorado's population has increased, recreational use on public lands has increased. In many areas, the increased use has resulted in user conflicts and damage to vegetation, soils, wildlife habitat, and other natural resources. The recreation management guidelines are tools, methods, and techniques that can be used by BLM managers to address these concerns.

Colorado's three Resource Advisory Councils (RACs) held a series of public meetings last year, and presented BLM with proposed recreation guidelines. From August 8 to September 22, 2000, BLM accepted public comment on it's recommended recreation guidelines. A summary of those comments can be found at http://www.co.blm.gov/guideline/guidelineresp.htm

In February of 1997, Standards for Public Land Health in Colorado were approved by the Secretary of the Interior and adopted as decisions in all of BLM's land use plans. These Standards describe natural resource conditions that are needed to sustain public land health. The Standards encompass upland soils; riparian systems; plant and animal communities; special, threatened, and endangered species; and water quality. Standards for Public land Health relate to all uses of the public lands. Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management, adopted in 1996, were the first guidelines adopted for Colorado.

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