| Contacts: | Tom Alvarez, Public Affairs Specialist, (970) 244-3097 |
BLM Seasonal Road Closures Begin Dec. 1
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.—The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Grand Junction Field Office (GJFO) will begin seasonal road closures throughout the GJFO District to protect critical big-game winter range, other sensitive areas and prevent road damage. Beginning Dec. 1 through April 30 road closures will take place in;:
- Beehive
- Chalk Mountain
- Grand Mesa Slopes
- Lands End
- Big Salt Wash
- Coal Gulch
- Blue Mesa
BLM roads in the GJFO area will be closed to motorized use. The Coal Canyon Road in the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Herd Management Area will close to motorized use beginning Dec. 1 until May 31.
In some areas, gates allowing access to that area will be locked while others will have posted signs that provide closure information. All areas will be open to non-motorized recreation such as hiking and horseback riding. For more information contact BLM Wildlife Biologist Heidi Plank at 970-244-3012.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. 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.