For Immediate Release Mel Lloyd BLM 970-244-3097 
March 5, 2008  

Land managers announce temporary closure to protect sage grouse

MONTROSE, Colo. — The Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Field Office (UFO) and the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (NCA) are implementing an immediate temporary closure on approximately 17,570 acres within the Gunnison sage grouse “area of critical environmental concern,” or ACEC, located in and adjacent to the Gunnison Gorge NCA. Effective immediately, the temporary closure is intended to protect the sensitive Gunnison sage grouse and its habitat, as well as reduce stress and disturbance to wintering deer and elk herds. Greater than normal winter snows are anticipated to extend muddy conditions this spring. As a result, all forms of human activity, including motorized, mechanical, foot, horseback, and skiing, will be prohibited through April 30, 2008, on portions of Black Ridge and Fruitland Mesas east of the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness, west of the Black Canyon Road, south of the Smith Fork drainage, and north of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.  This area is managed as an ACEC; therefore the BLM is taking extraordinary measures to protect its resources.

“Recent closures on public lands in the Gunnison Basin will likely result in increased human use within the ACEC this spring,” NCA Manager Karen Tucker said. “While winter snows in the ACEC are not nearly as severe as in Gunnison, in recent years we had already begun to see an increase in stress on Gunnison sage grouse and big game populations, and damage to important habitat areas including sage grouse leks, brooding and rearing areas caused by increased motorized and non-motorized use.”

Many people are already familiar with the BLM seasonal gate closure at the intersection of Black Canyon and C-77 Roads.  That closure restricts only motorized use in the Fruitland Mesa portion of the ACEC.  This new temporary closure, encompassing all human activity, will provide increased protection of important habitat, as well as roads from increased rutting and soil erosion. The Colorado Division of Wildlife is supportive of the temporary closure.

“Working closely with BLM to protect wildlife and key habitat is essential,” District Wildlife Manager Doug Homan said. “Minimizing human disturbance during late winter and early spring should help a variety of wildlife species rebound from difficult winter conditions.”

A map depicting the Gunnison Sage Grouse ACEC closure is available for viewing online at www.blm.gov/co (select Uncompahgre on interactive map), or at the Montrose Public Lands Center at 2505 S. Townsend Ave. in Montrose, the DOW office in Montrose at 2300 S. Townsend, and the Forest Service offices at 2250 U.S. Hwy. 50 in Delta and North Rio Grand Avenue in Paonia. BLM will post closure signs at main entry points to the ACEC. The BLM appreciates your cooperation with this effort to protect this special area. For additional information, contact Karen Tucker at (970) 240-5309 or Melissa Siders at (970) 240-5332. 

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