BLM hosts public Wild and Scenic River open houses

KREMMLING, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management Kremmling and Glenwood Springs Field Offices are hosting four public open houses in July to share information and receive comments on their Wild and Scenic River evaluations being conducted in advance of jointly revising their resource management plans (RMPs).

The BLM is required by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to assess river and stream segments under its management jurisdiction as part of its RMP process. This study was not conducted during past RMP processes for either Field Office.

The wild and scenic rivers evaluation consists of two phases: inventory/eligibility and study/suitability. At this time, BLM is conducting only the inventory phase which includes identifying eligible rivers and stream segments, and then assigning a tentative classification (Wild, Scenic, or Recreational).

BLM is currently working on identifying river and stream segments eligible for designation within these Field Office boundaries. To be eligible for designation, a river must be free flowing and contain at least one Outstandingly Remarkable Value that is scenic, recreational, geological, fish related, wildlife related, historic, cultural, botanical, hydrological, paleontological, or scientific.

The open houses address this eligibility phase – identifying what segments of rivers and streams within the Field Offices may meet criteria for wild and scenic rivers. If any segments are found to be eligible, BLM will conduct a suitability study as part of the RMP revision process.

“BLM will not be making Wild and Scenic River designations – only Congress or the Secretary of Interior can do that,” said John Ruhs, Kremmling Field Manager. “We want to share the information we have gathered with the public at these open houses, as well as accept written comments regarding potentially eligible river and stream segments.”
Open houses are being held at the following locations:
· July 10, Granby, 5-8 p.m., Granby Community Center, 129 3rd St.
· July 11, Kremmling, 5:30-8:30 p.m., CSU Extension Hall, 210 11th Street
· July 12, Glenwood Springs, 5-8 p.m. Community Center, 100 Wulfsohn Road
· July 13, Eagle, 5-8 p.m., Brush Creek Pavilion, 0909 Capital St.
Written comments will be accepted through July 28, 2006 by mail: BLM WSR Inventory, C/o Tetra Tech, 4900 Pearl East Circle, Suite 300W, Boulder, CO 80301; email: WSRcomments@ttsfo.com; or fax 720) 406-9114 Attention WSR Inventory Phase Comments.

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