| Contacts: | Deanna Masterson, (303) 239-3671 | |||
| Jedd Sondergard, (970) 240-5300 |
BLM Southwest Resource Advisory Council Subgroup Hosting Meetings to Discuss Wild and Scenic River Suitability Study
MONTROSE, Colo. - The Bureau of Land Management Southwest Resource Advisory Council subgroup will hold a series of public meetings in Telluride, Naturita and Norwood, Colo. Jan. 4, 5 and 20 to discuss Wild and Scenic River suitability studies.
The Jan. 4 and 5 meetings will address private property impacts. The discussions will focus on the eligible segments of the San Miguel River, Tabeguache Creek, Dry Creek and Naturita Creek.
The Jan. 20 meeting will address Wild and Scenic River basics (impacts, management alternatives, etc.).
Meeting Details:
Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Wilkinson Public Library
100 West Pacific Ave.
Telluride, CO 81435
Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Naturita Community Building
411 W 2nd Ave
Naturita, CO 81422
Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011
5:30-8:30 p.m.
Norwood Community Center
1670 Naturita Street
Norwood, CO 81423
Public input is a vital part of the Wild and Scenic River suitability process. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act seeks to preserve certain rivers and their immediate environments, maintain free-flowing conditions, protect water quality and fulfill other conservation purposes. Based on various criteria, river segments may be designated wild, scenic, recreational or remain undesignated. For more information on the Wild and Scenic River designation process visit www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ufo/wild_and_scenic_river.html.
The Southwest Colorado RAC subgroup is composed of area residents representing diverse interests within the Uncompahgre Field Office. The eight-member subgroup is responsible for forwarding consensus-based recommendations regarding Wild and Scenic River suitability on several river segments by February 2011 to the Southwest Colorado RAC.
The Southwest Colorado RAC is one of three advisory councils in BLM Colorado. Composed of 15 members appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, individuals serving in each RAC represent a broad range of public interests, ranging from environmental to local government to commercial activity. For more information on Colorado’s RACs, go to www.blm.gov/co and select Get Involved, then Advisory Councils.
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.
2465 South Townsend Avenue Montrose, CO 81401