| Contacts: | Jeff Williams, 719-269-8558 |
BLM Seeks Public Input on Grazing Use
CANON CITY, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management Royal Gorge Field Office is conducting an Environmental Assessment (EA) for grazing use on the Hayden Ranch Allotment in Lake County, Colo.
Hayden Ranch is located six miles south of Leadville along U.S. Highway 24 and County Road 10. The ranch was acquired by the BLM in 2005 to preserve critical wildlife habitat, scenic vistas, open space, and ranching heritage through the multi-partner vision of the Lake County Open Space Initiative.
Since acquiring the ranch, the BLM has conducted wetland delineation and habitat type analysis, and upland vegetation resource inventories. The BLM has also authorized livestock grazing under a trial basis for the last two years to study livestock use on a new pasture design and livestock interactions with a wildlife-friendly fence. Work on the ranch was done in cooperation with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the Buena Vista Correctional Facility inmate crews, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation volunteers.
The public is welcome to participate and identify any issues, concerns, or resource conditions that would assist in analyzing grazing use specific to the allotment. Written comments need to be submitted by March 16, 2010 to the Bureau of Land Management Royal Gorge Field Office, Attn: Hayden Ranch, 3028 E. Main, Canon City, CO 81212, or emailed to rgfo_comments@blm.gov.
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.
3028 East Main St. Canon City, Colorado 81212