BLM White River releasing EA on West Douglas Herd Area

MEEKER, CO— The Bureau of Land Management White River Field Office (WRFO) is releasing an Environmental Assessment (EA) on June 7, 2005, to help inform decision makers on the feasibility of effectively managing wild horses in the West Douglas Herd Area (WDHA) of the White River Field Office. The 123,389-acre West Douglas Herd Area is located west of Hwy. 139 near Douglas Pass and extends from five miles south of Rangely south approximately 30 miles to West Creek and west to near the Utah border.

“An EA released last year was withdrawn to allow further analysis in addressing concerns raised by the public. This newest West Douglas EA analyzes several alternatives then focuses on two alternatives— to manage or not to manage a herd in the WDHA. At this time, the BLM proposed action is to manage a herd of 29 to 60 horses,” WRFO Manager Kent Walter said. “As part of BLM’s multiple use mission, as well as by mandate, public lands are managed for a variety of activities, while maintaining a thriving natural ecological balance, or TNEB.”

Regardless of the outcome of this planning effort, the BLM WRFO will continue to manage up to 235 horses on 195,000 acres in the nearby Piceance/East Douglas Wild Horse Herd Management Area. Colorado is also home to the Little Book Cliffs, Sandwash and Spring Creek Herd Management Areas.

The EA will be available for public review at BLM’s White River and Grand Junction Field Offices for a period of 30 days. Public input is critical to the BLM planning process, and detailed comments strengthen the evaluation process. For consideration and inclusion in the public comment record, comments on this EA must be submitted in writing to BLM White River Field Office, Attn: WDHA EA, 73544 Hwy. 64, Meeker, CO 81641. Receipt and consideration of comments by other means cannot be guaranteed by the BLM. Because of recent interruptions with BLM web connectivity, submission by mail is required. The comment period closes on July 8, 2005. For additional information, contact Bob Fowler at (970) 878-3840.

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