BLM Colorado - IBLA supports BLM on Bangs Canyon Implementation EA

GRAND JUNCTION, CO—The Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) has ruled on a Petition for Stay filed last month by a group of environmental organizations on the Bureau of Land Management’s Implementation Decision for the Environmental Assessment (EA) of the Bangs Canyon Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA). IBLA supported BLM’s Decision Record by dismissing the majority of appellant allegations against BLM, which included failure to designate a Wilderness Study Area, “results rigging” the EA, violation of Federal acts and regulations, and inconsistencies with threatened and endangered species and weed control in the 1999 Bangs Canyon Management Plan.

“This decision validates a public process that took a significant amount of time and energy from our community partners,” Field Manager Catherine Robertson said. “BLM is excited to now move forward in implementing a plan that focuses on sustainable shared-use trails and addresses the pressing issues surrounding urban interface management that BLM faces in managing public lands.”

IBLA concluded that appellants, who included The Wilderness Society, Colorado Environmental Coalition, Colorado Mountain Club, Western Colorado Congress, Sierra Club and the Concerned Citizens Alliance, failed to show “a likelihood of success” on all but one of several asserted arguments. IBLA identified the one exception involving two designated ATV trails in the northern part of Area 5 of the SRMA. These trails were designated by BLM in the final EA in response to about 300 unique public comments generated by the draft EA. BLM will fully analyze potential impacts from those trails prior to initiating their construction.

“The Northwest Resource Advisory Council visited the Bangs Canyon area and kept up on the plan's progress. People, local people, were involved all along that process and came up with solutions that accommodated most Stakeholders’ needs,” Council Member John Martin said. “We officially supported BLM’s decision and are looking forward to the implementation. The Bangs Canyon Plan was well thought out and it demonstrates good balance between the people’s needs and protection of the resources.”

Priority actions in implementing the Bangs Canyon Management Plan, that will be initiated this field season, include:

As addressed in the plan, motorized use in the Lunch Loop area of the Tabeguache Trail between Monument Road and Little Park Road at 1st Flats will be prohibited, starting later this field season.

“There are two parts to the implementation of the Bangs plan that are exciting to the mountain bike community,” COPMOBA Executive Director Chris Herrman said. “One is that BLM is recognizing and working with a growing segment of users who want challenging trail opportunities, and the other is that by accommodating a use that was never before envisioned takes pressure off of the multiple-use trails—lessening conflict among users.”

The Final Environmental Assessment and Decision Record for implementation of the Bangs Canyon Management Plan, approved in 1999, were issued on April 6, 2006. The EA, released for public comment in August 2005, analyzed implementation actions for each of the six unique emphasis areas created under the Bangs Canyon Management Plan for the Bangs Canyon SRMA. The Bangs Canyon SRMA is located in Mesa County, Colorado, 5 miles south of Grand Junction. The area is bounded by the Gunnison River on the northeast, Colorado National Monument on the northwest, East Creek (Highway 141) to the southeast, and Glade Park (Pinyon Mesa) to the southwest. For additional information on the Bangs Canyon SRMA, contact Jim Cooper at (970) 244-3047 or visit http://www.co.blm.gov/gjra.

Editor’s Note: See attached Sidebar for additional details regarding the decision.

The decision (Alternative 5) is crafted from the four alternatives discussed in the Environmental Assessment, as well as from public comment.

BLM analyzed the construction of a shared-use, single-track system that will have a regional appeal and complements the Cactus Park opportunities, south of Bangs Canyon and across Highway 141 (Area 6).

All existing and new routes included in the public routes network will be constructed and maintained to meet sustainable defined standards. (See EA Appendix A, Criteria for the Placement of Trails.) Well-designed routes are more fun to use, and resource protection will be enhanced.

The actions will improve the recreation opportunities on the urban interface, with better trails and facilities at Lunch Loop. Implementation of the plan expands opportunities for day-use motorized users and mountain bikers in Area 4, and improves hiking trails in Areas 2 and 3. To protect the resource and eliminate troublesome social trails on the urban interface, all visitors are restricted to designated routes (Areas 1, 2, 3 and 4).

The decision creates expanded boundaries and additional protections for backcountry primitive experiences. (Acreage was 12,000 and will now be 34,000 acres.)

The BLM will be better able to initiate implementation projects using partnerships with user groups.

Our obligation to connect the Tabeguache Trail from Little Park Road to Highway 141 will be fulfilled. The primitive 4X4 route will be a more difficult trail suitable for high clearance 4X4 vehicles. This route will provide hunting access, helping to achieve Colorado Division of Wildlife herd management objectives.

The decision defines allowable uses for all routes and manages impacts resulting from human use. All trails will be built and maintained to a sustainable standard. The resulting new trail systems reduce the number of miles of routes available for public access, preserving 34,000 primitive backcountry acres. The decision:

fulfills the 1999 Bangs Canyon Plan and 1987 Grand Junction Resource Management Plan,
locates the motorized trailhead away from residential areas,
includes ATV specific trails,
expands the backcountry primitive area from 12,000 to 34,000 acres,
expands the designated shared-use trail system while reducing trail miles from 216 to 187,
requires well-designed, sustainable routes that are more fun to use and provides protections for the resource,
improves both facilities and recreation opportunities in the urban interface areas, and
provides for black diamond/downhill bicycle opportunities.

The following is a summary of the mileages and acreages affected by the full implementation of the 1999 BCMP. Prior to 1999 (approval of the BCMP), 251 miles were available to the public. Presently, 216 miles of routes are available to the public. With the implementation of this decision, 187 miles will be available to the public. Although fewer miles will be available, the recreation experience will be of a higher quality and resource protection will be enhanced.

	Area 1 Miles	Area 2 Miles	Area 3 Miles	Area 4 Miles	Area 5 Miles	Area 6 Miles	TOTAL MILEAGE
Closed	9	8	0	10	7	11	45
Admin	0	1	0	1	23	56	81
Existing	15	9	9	13	24	20	90
New	12	6	4	20	6	49	97
Open public routes	27	15	13	33	30	69	187