| Contacts: | Jeff Litteral: 970-240-5300 |
BLM Uncompahgre Releases Final Wild and Scenic River Eligibility Report and Begins Suitability Comment Period (07-22-10)
Montrose, Colo. -- The Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Field Office (UFO) announces the release of the Final Wild and Scenic River Eligibility Report for the BLM Uncompahgre Planning Area,as well as the opportunity to participate in the determination of suitability phase.
The determination of suitability phase focuses on jurisdictional and manageability issues affecting eligible waterways. Criteria developed by the BLM and the Interagency Wild and Scenic Rivers Coordinating Council will be used to evaluate the suitability of eligible river segments.
As a component of the Uncompahgre Resource Management Plan (RMP) revision, the UFO is required to evaluate rivers and streams within its jurisdiction for potential inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
“Public input is an essential component of our planning process, which is why it is important that they weigh in with their thoughts and concerns related to the determination of suitability within the Uncompahgre planning area,” said Barbara Sharrow, Field Manager for the UFO.
All rivers and streams with a perennial or intermittent flow within the Uncompahgre planning area and the portion of the newly designated Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (NCA), within the UFO boundary, were inventoried. The BLM identified 174 river segments for study, 34 of which possess the free-flowing character and outstandingly remarkable values required for eligibility.
Five Dominguez-Escalante NCA segments evaluated by the Grand Junction Field Office, as part of their planning effort, are also available for input as to determination of suitability. Comments pertaining to suitability that were submitted during the public scoping period for eligibility will be carried forward and integrated into the suitability evaluation.
Congress enacted the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 1968 to preserve and protect selected waterways for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Act safeguards the special character of these rivers, while allowing for their appropriate use and development. The Wild and Scenic River study process consists of assessing both the eligibility and suitability of rivers within the study area.
The Wild and Scenic River eligibility report, segment suitability comment forms, instructions, and information are available at our office in Montrose and online at: www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ufo/wild_and_scenic_river.html.
Submit comment forms by August 16, 2010 via email to: uformp@blm.gov, or mail to: BLM UFO, Attention: RMP Revision, 2465 South Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO 81401.
The Southwest District BLM Resource Advisory Subcommittee will facilitate a public stakeholder group to assist the BLM in determining which segments are suitable for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic River System and in developing the range of suitability alternatives for the San Miguel and Dolores river basins. In addition, the Colorado River Water Conservation District will convene a broad-based stakeholders’ group to offer recommendations regarding river segments for the Gunnison River Basin.
Please contact the BLM UFO at (970) 240-5300 for more information.
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