BLM to Hold Public Meetings on Travel Management Plan

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be holding public involvement meetings on the Arkansas River Travel Management Plan (TMP) in Salida and Canon City in early August.

These will be the second in a series of three public meeting sessions for the Arkansas River TMP. The first set of meetings was held in October, 2004, to obtain input from the public for identifying the issues and concerns that should be addressed in the TMP. The purpose of the upcoming meetings is to obtain public input to help identify the goals and objectives that should be achieved by the TMP.

The public lands included in the Arkansas River TMP are located within a 75 mile stretch of the Arkansas River corridor between Canon City and Hecla Junction, including portions of Fremont, Chaffee, and Custer Counties.

The first public meeting will be held in Salida on Thursday, August 4, at the Salida Senior Citizens Center, located at 305 F Street. The second meeting will be in Canon City on Monday, August 8, at the Canon City Administration Building, located at 128 Main Street. Both meetings will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The major concern addressed in this plan is changing the travel regulations for the use of Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) on public lands. Currently, OHV use in the planning area is limited to existing roads and trails. The BLM proposes changing the regulations to limit OHV use to designated roads and trails.

Maps of the existing roads and trails and specific information about the natural resources and current uses in the planning area will be presented at both meetings. Additional information about the Arkansas River TMP can be obtained by contacting: Dave Walker, Transportation Planner, Royal Gorge Field Office, 3170 Main, Canon City, CO 81212 or by calling (719) 269-8545.

------------blm----------------