For Immediate Release: December 3, 2004
Contact: Mel Lloyd: 970-244-3097
 
 

Open house set to review interim travel management designation for Hardscrabble area

GYPSUM, CO— In an effort to halt the proliferation of unplanned routes which results in impacts to natural, visual and recreational resources, the Bureau of Land Management Glenwood Springs Field Office is proposing an interim travel management designation for the Hardscrabble Area located between Gypsum and Eagle, south of I-70. 

The public will have the opportunity to review these proposed designated routes developed for the BLM-managed Hardscrabble Area at an open house scheduled from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004 at the Gypsum Town Hall, located at 50 Lundgren Blvd., in Gypsum.  Most of the existing routes will be proposed for designation and public input is needed, especially to ensure that all existing routes are shown on the planning map.

“Visitors will notice little change in routes open for travel since most existing travel routes are proposed to be designated as open,” said Outdoor Recreation Planner Dorothy Morgan.  “The travel order does not apply to foot or horseback travel or snowmobiles traveling on snow.”

This interim designation would limit motorized and mechanized use to designated routes in an effort to curb expanding cross-country use and protect natural resources in the Hardscrabble Area.  Planning decisions made in BLM’s Resource Management Plan Revision, currently scheduled to begin in 2006, may maintain, rescind or modify these interim travel designations. 

A Travel Assessment was completed in summer 2004 to collect public comments on issues in the Hardscrabble Area.  Participants included local governments, adjacent land owners and motorized and non-motorized users.  The common theme from those comments was that, until the Glenwood Springs Resource RMP Revision is in place, interim management is needed to protect resources and prevent new unauthorized routes from being created.  Based on that input, some routes causing significant impact may not be considered for designation.  The Hardscrabble Travel Assessment Summary Report can be found at http://www.co.blm.gov/gsra/travelmanagement.htm.

For more information, contact Dorothy Morgan at (970) 947-2806, or the BLM Glenwood Springs Field Office at (970) 947-2800, 50629 Hwy. 6 & 24.

-BLM-