BLM Seeks Public Comment on Fuels Reduction Proposal

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Royal Gorge Field Office is proposing a project to mechanically reduce fuels on public land in the Big Hole area.  The BLM is asking for comments from the public to help develop the plan and determine if the project will be done.  Big Hole is located about 20 miles west of Canon City and northeast of Texas Creek.

Suppression of wildfires over the past 70 years has disrupted normal ecological cycles and allowed an increase in the density of forests and an accumulation of fuels.  Pinyon and juniper canopies have grown increasingly dense and these woodlands have begun to encroach into many of the open parks and meadows.  These areas begin to retain less moisture during precipitation and allow higher levels of soil erosion.  Productivity, vigor and diversity of the site also decrease. 

The goals of the proposed project are to improve both wildlife habitat and diversity of the vegetation and to reduce the build-up of natural fuels.  Treatment of the proposed 500 acres would be done using a roller-chopper or hydro-axe and would begin in the fall of 2003 and continue through the winter of 2004.

Funding for the project would be provided by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Front Range Board of District Advisors and the Bureau of Land Management.

Comments are welcome at any time, however to be most effective in the analysis for this proposal they should be received by October 15, 2003.  Comments or requests for further information should be addressed to: Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Big Hole Vegetation Treatment, 3170 East Main Street, Canon City, CO, 81212.  Verbal comments can be given to Jeff Williams at (719) 269-8558 at the BLM office.  E-mail comments can be sent to: rgfo_comments@blm.gov.  Anyone wanting to keep their name, address and comments confidential should contact the BLM office for information, prior to submitting their comments.  No anonymous comments will be considered. 

-BLM-