For Immediate Release:

Contact: Art Hayes 303.642.4452

BLM CLOSES ROADS DURING SPRING MUD SEASON

The Bureau of Land Management plans to close several roads this spring to prevent road damage when the roads are wet and muddy and to reduce disturbance to mating sage grouse. This type of seasonal closure is prescribed in the BLM’s Resource Management Plan. The roads scheduled for closure are:

• The road from Tomichi Heights to Signal Peak (3123)
• The Cabin Creek road (3107)
• The Dry Gulch and Sewell Rim roads (3106)
• North Parlin Flats road (3103)
• South Parlin Flats road (3076)
• The road to Tomichi Dome (3094). 
• Six Mile Lane (3072)
• McCabe area gates - Hartman Rocks Area

Additional roads may be closed if damage is identified.

These roads will be re-opened when they dry sufficiently to allow vehicular traffic.  Anyone having a need for access on any of these roads is asked to contact the BLM office at 641-0471.  The BLM would also like to remind those driving on public land during the spring to use good judgement even if the road is not closed by a gate.  If ruts are created by driving on soft roads, that can be considered resource damage and persons can be cited for that activity anywhere on public land.  When roads become rutted, the ruts collect and concentrate snowmelt eroding deeper ruts which quickens the delivery of water into streams to erode stream banks.  Additionally, soil eroded from the ruts is transported into streams affecting fish and other aquatic life.  It has also been identified that human disturbance to sage grouse during their mating season may have a detrimental effect on the population of these unique birds.    Preventing damage to roads also lowers maintenance costs which are paid for with tax dollars.  Please help us manage your public land.

-BLM-