| Contacts: | Erin Curtis, Public Information Officer, (970) 244-3097 |
BLM to Hold Open House on Ruby-Horsethief Permit Proposals
Grand Junction, CO -- The Bureau of Land Management’s McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area will hold an open house June 1 to discuss new approaches to managing visitor use in the Ruby-Horsethief section of the Colorado River. Four alternatives are being considered, including different scenarios for fees and permits.
The Ruby-Horsethief section of the Colorado runs through McInnis Canyons NCA, and the NCA staff is seeking the public’s feedback on four possible alternatives for potential permit systems. This public input will be used to prepare an Environmental Assessment to analyze options for managing public use, minimizing impacts to boaters’ experiences and protecting natural resources.
The BLM has spent the last year exploring options for future management direction for the river stretch to keep up with increased boating and camping use. Alternatives range from continuing to manage the river as is to instituting a registration system that would limit the number of campers each night on the river, and potentially including a $7 per person, per night overnight camping fee to help support the delivery of enhanced visitor services on the river.
“With more people visiting the area and floating the river, we’ve seen an increase in confusion and ineffectiveness of the voluntary campsite registration system,” said Katie A. Stevens, NCA Manager. “Impacts to the quality of the visitor experience and damage to resources have also increased, including unauthorized campsites and trash and waste build-up. We are looking for a way to eliminate confusion and limit resource damage while still allowing for a casual and enjoyable float and camping experience for boaters.”
The open house will be held June 1 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the BLM Grand Junction Field office at 2815 H Road in Grand Junction. Members of the McInnis Canyons NCA Subgroup of the Northwest Resource Advisory Council will be present from 5 to 7 p.m..
The alternatives have also been posted to the BLM website, and members of the public have an opportunity to submit comments online, as well. To review the alternatives, go to http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nca/mcnca/Ruby_Horsethief.html. A comment form will be posted at this same address; comments may be submitted in hard copy or by emailing to rubyhorsethief@blm.gov. For more information, contact Katie Stevens, NCA manager, at (970) 244-3049.
## BLM ##
Encompassing more than 123,000 acres of BLM-administered public lands on the western slope of Colorado, McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area is one of the BLM's 16 National Conservation Areas in the West. In addition to spectacular scenery, world-class recreational opportunities, and important cultural resources and wildlife habitats, McInnis Canyons NCA offers outstanding educational and scientific opportunities. National Conservation Areas are part of the BLM's National Landscape Conservation System, a unique network of special places that serve as scenic showcases for the conservation, protection, and restoration elements of BLM's multiple use mission. These treasured landscapes make up more than 27 million of the 253 million total acres of western public lands managed by the BLM in the western United States.
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.
2815 H Road Grand Junction, CO 81506