For Immediate Release July 1, 2004
Contact: Steven Hall 970-244-3052
           

BLM to assess new Bridgeport Bridge at Dominguez Canyon

The Bureau of Land Management is assessing the impacts of constructing a new Bridgeport Bridge across the Gunnison River to access the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Study Area (WSA). The existing bridge was closed to public access in 1986, after the sagging structure was determined to be unsafe.

"There is a public demand for access to Dominguez Canyon WSA and we do have people trespassing across the existing bridge," BLM Recreation Planner Britta Laub said. "We are assessing the impacts of improving public access at Bridgeport to meet the public demand."

The BLM is requesting public comment on an Environmental Assessment, which analyzes the impacts of construction of a foot/horse bridge over the Gunnison River at the Bridgeport Bridge site.

A decision was made by the BLM though the EA process in 1986 to construct a new foot/horse bridge at the Bridgeport site to provide public access. The 2004 EA will revisit the 1986 decision.

Public comment will be taken through August 2, 2004. The EA is available on the internet at www.co.blm.gov/nepa/gjfonepa.htm, or at the Grand Junction Field Office, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, CO, (970) 244-3000.

The Dominguez Canyon WSA was designated in 1980. The 73,568 acre area is 29 miles southeast of Grand Junction. The area ranges from upper Sonoran piñon-juniper desert along the Gunnison River, up to Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine to aspen and spruce-fir forests in the higher areas. Dominguez Canyon WSA consists of two major canyon systems, Big Dominguez and Little Dominguez. The canyons drain the northeastern corner of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Little Dominguez is the longer of the two at approximately 20 miles in length. It joins the larger Big Dominguez Canyon a little over a mile before their confluence with the Gunnison River.

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