Decision stands to remove West Douglas wild horses

MEEKER, CO — The Bureau of Land Management White River Field Office (WRFO) has chosen Alternative A of the Environmental Assessment for the West Douglas Herd Area (WDHA). This decision will implement the Record of Decision for the 1997 White River Resource Area Management Plan (WRRA RMP) which recommended removing all wild horses from the WDHA by 2007.

“The BLM engaged local communities, the Northwest Resource Advisory Council, county and state government, and the public to help determine the Bureau’s management plan for the West Douglas wild horses,” Field Manager Kent Walter said. “The area is just not the most suitable area for long-term management of wild horses.”

The EA concluded that only a small herd of 29 to 60 horses could be managed within the WDHA. Intensive long-term management would be required by the BLM to do this, as would continually introducing mares from outside the herd to ensure the long-term genetic viability of a self-sustaining wild horse herd. Based on this information and agency discretion, BLM has determined that managing horses in the WDHA would require an extensive allocation of agency resources and this is not the best use of those resources overall. The 1997 RMP determined the Piceance/East Douglas Wild Horse Herd Management Area as the most suitable habitat in the area, and it will continue to be home to up to 235 horses on 195,000 acres.

The 123,389-acre WDHA is approximately 50 miles north of Grand Junction, and is located west of Highway 139 in northwestern Colorado, just southwest of Rangely, extending west toward the Utah border. Colorado is also home to the Little Book Cliffs, Sandwash and Spring Creek Herd Management Areas.

The Decision Record will be available for public review at BLM’s White River and Grand Junction Field Offices for a 30-day period. The protest period ends Oct.1, 2005. Members of the public, who have submitted written comments during the comment period, may send written protests to the BLM White River Field Office, Attn: WDHA Decision Record, 73544 Hwy. 64, Meeker, CO 81641. Because of interruptions with BLM web connectivity, submission by mail is required. Receipt and consideration of comments by other means cannot be guaranteed by the BLM. For additional information, contact Bob Fowler at (970) 878-3840.

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