For Immediate Release:January 28, 2008
Contact: Mel Lloyd BLM 970-244-3097 
  

Land managers revise temporary closures

GUNNISON, Colo. — The Bureau of Land Management Gunnison Field Office implemented temporary closures on some public lands last week to motorized use in an effort to reduce disturbance to an already stressed population of deer, elk, big horn sheep, and pronghorn antelope. After receiving feedback from the Colorado Division of Wildlife and their volunteer staff in the field, BLM is revising the temporary closures to apply to all unauthorized human activity effective immediately. Closures will remain in effect until May 15, 2008, but may be taken off sooner if the conditions change significantly. 

Agency staff and volunteers have seen higher than expected levels of non-motorized use in critical wintering area. The result is that big game herds are being stressed and pushed away from feeding areas.  Any unnecessary movement by wildlife during such challenging conditions can threaten their survival by reducing the stored fat and nutrients they need to survive. The emergency feeding operations themselves have sparked the public’s curiosity, resulting in an increased human presence at the feeding areas. These disturbances have prompted the need to revise temporary closures, along with the need to add several areas to the closure.

The following public lands are now closed to all human use (both motorized and non-motorized) with the exception of DOW, BLM and Forest Service staff and volunteers working directly with the game feeding operations:
· All public lands managed by the BLM and DOW lands north of Highway 50 and west of Gunnison between West Antelope Creek and West Elk Creek.
· All public lands north of Highway 50 and east of Gunnison.
· All public lands south of Highway 50, between Highway 114 and the Doyleville Cutoff.
· All public lands south of Highway 50 between Highway 114 and Six Mile Lane extending south to the Saguache county line.
· All public lands south of Highway 50 between South Beaver Creek and the Vulcan Road.
· All Forest Service lands in the Flat Top Mountain area between the Ohio Creek Road and Highway 135, and north to Big Alkali Lake.
· All Forest Service lands in the Almont Triangle area between Highway 135, the Taylor Canyon Road and the Jack’s Cabin Cutoff.
· Other DOW lands outside these areas are closed as usual to protect wintering wildlife.

Within these areas the following roads will be maintained and remain open to vehicle traffic:
Subdivision roads such as North Elk Meadows, Castle Mountain, Sun Park, Cranor Acres, North Valley, Steuben Creek, Dos Rios, etc.
Antelope Hills Road (CR 17)
Rifle Range Road (CR 18)
Woods Gulch Road (CR 44)
Doyleville Cutoff (CR 45)
Lost Canyon Road (CR 743) to the end of plowing
Mill Creek Road (CR 727) to the ski parking lot
McCabe Lane to the Moncrief Ranch headquarters
Gold Basin Road (CR 38)
Wylie Lane (CR 818) to the closure gate
Waunita Hot Springs Road (CR 887)

The following roads have been designated as access routes that will remain open to allow snowmobile traffic to reach private land parcels and recreation opportunities above critical wildlife winter range:
Rainbow Lake Road (CR 724) to the FS boundary
Lost Canyon Road (CR  743) from the end of plowing to the FS boundary
North Parlin Flats Road (CR 60) to the FS boundary
Vulcan Road (CR 31)
Six Mile Lane (CR 42)

Here are some recommendations for enjoying the abundant snow pack in the Gunnison Basin without stressing wildlife:
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing – Mill Creek, Pitkin and Quartz Creek area, Lottis Creek Trail amd Union Park Road in the Taylor Canyon area, Cement Creek Drainage, Carbon Creek Road, Old Monarch Pass, all the regular skiing areas around Crested Butte, the Airport Road with 3 miles of groomed trails (dogs okay on road but not allowed in pastures), Van Tuyl trail (no dogs allowed) and Hartman Rocks, which has 16 miles of groomed trails not affected by the wildlife closure.

Snowmobiling – The Taylor Park area, Pitkin and Quartz Creek area, Kebler Pass area, all the regular snowmobiling areas around Crested Butte, Ohio Pass, Marshall Pass, Alpine Plateau, the Lake City Continental Divide Snowmobile Trails (80 miles of groomed routes), Black Mesa area via the Crystal Creek Road, Waunita/Black Sage Pass/ Whitepine area, Rainbow Lake Road on FS lands, upper Gold Basin area.  The Hartman Rocks ski trails are not great for snowmobiling but are open to that use – please do not drive on the set ski track on the side of the groomed trails.

Dog Sledding – Taylor Park area, Pitkin and Quartz Creek area.

Dog Walking near Gunnison – Highway 50 Frontage Road, Antelope Hills Road, Rifle Range Road, Airport Road (no dogs in pastures), Hartman Rocks base area, McCabe Lane entrance to Hartman Rocks, Gold Basin Road.

If you see animals, please do not stress them. If they are running away from you, then you are too close. There are only a few places the animals can find food during a severe winter, and there are several places you can recreate without threatening their survival.  We appreciate your cooperation with this effort to preserve the Basin’s wildlife populations. And please, control your dogs and take them where allowed!

The BLM’s Resource Management Plan specifically provides for the ability to establish emergency closures to protect wintering big game during years of unusually heavy snowfall.
A map depicting these closures is available at the BLM/Forest Service office at 216 N. Colorado Street and at the Division of Wildlife office at 300 W. New York Avenue. For additional information, call (970) 641-0471. 

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Editor’s Note: Revised map available upon request.