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BLM seeks comment on proposed trail increasing access to Piceance Basin lands (08-27-10)
MEEKER, Colo. -- The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on a proposal to construct up to two trails to improve public access to 21,000 acres of public land in the Willow Creek area, which is located on the Piceance Basin about 40 miles southwest of Meeker, Colo.
The BLM is currently conducting an environmental assessment on the proposal, which is available at: www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/wrfo.html
One proposed 0.3-mile trail would connect the maintained road in the West Willow Creek drainage to the maintained road in the East Willow Creek drainage. Currently access between these points is through private land and is not available to the general public. The EA examines two alternatives for this trail: one that can accommodate off-highway vehicles along with foot and horse traffic, and one that’s just for foot and horse travel.
In the motorized-access alternative, a second route would be constructed about a mile to the south, between East Willow Creek and Scandard Gulch. This trail would improve access to Scandard Ridge and be open to motorized vehicles. It would involve constructing about 0.3 miles of new trail that would connect two old roads, creating a route totaling about 1.25 miles.
If approved, the project is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2011.
BLM will accept comments on the EA through Sept. 9, 2010. Comments may be sent to the BLM White River Field Office, c/o: Jim Michels, 220 East Market St., Meeker, CO 81641, or e-mailed to Jim_Michels@blm.gov.
The BLM manages more land - over 245 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
220 E. Market Meeker, CO 81641