BLM withdraws West Douglas EA

MEEKER—The Bureau of Land Management White River Field Office withdrew the West Douglas Resource Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Assessment for additional analysis and review.

“Based on the comments we received from the public and our own internal review, the BLM will take another look at this document in 2005,” White River Field Manager Kent Walter said.

The BLM manages wild horses at the nearby Piceance/East Douglas Wild Horse Herd Management Area, which was determined in 1975 to be the best area for wild horses to thrive. The BLM also manages wild horses in Colorado at the Little Book Cliffs, Sandwash and Spring Creek wild horse herd management areas.

Since 1981, seven wild horse gathers have occurred in the West Douglas area. At one time, the wild horse population in the West Douglas area was reduced to 30. Now, wild horses in the area number around 120.

“The BLM operates under a multiple use mandate, which means we try to find the appropriate areas for different public land uses,” Walter said. “Since the 1970s, the West Douglas area has not been managed for a wild horse population for a variety of reasons. Our planning process in 2005 will ensure that we take another close look at this issue and allow the public another opportunity to participate.”

The West Douglas area encompasses 123,389 acres south of Rangely and west of Hwy 139. The area of rough, arid terrain extends west to near the Utah state line.

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