BLM Proposes rule change at Guffey Gorge

Cañon City – The Bureau of Land Managements (BLM) Royal Gorge Field Office is proposing to make several regulation changes for the use of public lands in the Guffey Gorge area of Park County. The site is located about 10 miles northeast of Guffey and adjacent to Park County Road 102 near the Teller County line.

Over the past 5 years, a significant increase in recreational use on this small tract (80 acres) of public land has resulted in resource damage, user conflicts, and safety hazards to visitors and adjacent private landowners. Many of these problems are associated with overnight camping in the area. Significant resource damage has resulted from the cutting of trees to fuel bonfires and the proliferation of campsites and campfires in the riparian area of West Fourmile Creek. In addition, adjacent landowners and members of the nearby community of Guffey have expressed many concerns about current recreation use in this area including: campfires and fireworks resulting in wildfire; recreational target shooting endangering adjacent residences and increased vandalism of adjacent private property.

The proposed regulation changes to the area include: designating the area as day use only; no fireworks or open fires (gas stoves or gas grills are permitted); no glass containers; and recreational target shooting (including paintball) would be prohibited. While leaving the area open, these proposed regulation changes are intended to reduce and hopefully eliminate the use problems that are causing severe resource damage to the area and are creating a health and safety problem to users of the area and adjacent landowners.

The BLM will be taking comments on these proposed changes in the regulations for Guffey Gorge through December 9, 2005. Comments or requests for information should be addressed to: Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Guffey Gorge Proposed Rule Change, 3170 East Main Street, Cañon City, CO 81212. E-mailed comments can be sent to rgfo_comments@blm.gov. Anyone wanting to keep their name, address and comments confidential should contact Leah Quesenberry (719-269-8547) at the BLM office prior to submitting comments. No anonymous comments will be considered.

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