| Contacts: | Gary Shellhorn, Special Projects Planner, 970.874.6666 | |||
| Kristi Murphy, Gunnison BLM Rec. Manager, 970.642.4454 |
Gunnison Travel Decisions Released (06-28-10)
Gunnison, CO., (June 28, 2010) – The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests and the Gunnison Field Office for the Bureau of Land Management released the Records of Decision (RODs) for the Gunnison Travel Management planning effort. These decisions encompass travel management on federal lands within the Gunnison Basin and North Fork of Colorado. The Forest Service and BLM released the final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) in late April.
According to Forest Supervisor Charlie Richmond and BLM Field Office Manager Brian St. George, “These RODs are the result of more than three years of planning with significant public involvement. We worked in collaboration with many groups and individuals in this effort and received over 3,000 comments that were used to create the FEIS and RODs.” They went on to state, “we realize that travel management planning and implementation are a continuing effort and not everyone will agree on the outcome. However, these decisions best provide a varied and comprehensive travel network on federal lands, while establishing the ground work for a safe, sustainable and ecologically-sound travel system.”
Some key elements of the RODs include:
2, 334 miles of road designated open to public use.
559 miles of trail designated for motorized use.
409 miles of trail identified (outside of Wilderness) for non-motorized use and 300 miles of these are open to mountain bike use.
Potential to develop 40 miles of new trail.
No designated motorized routes were identified within inventoried roadless (2008 inventory).
Seasonal restrictions are used to mitigate potential adverse impacts to natural and cultural resources.
A full range of recreation travel experiences are provided
Provides the foundation for the Motor Vehicle Use Map for the Gunnison National Forest in compliance with Forest Service regulations.
Access to private land in-holdings is maintained in accordance with law and regulation.
Copies of the RODs will be available: at local libraries (reference materials) and/or the BLM/Forest Service offices in Gunnison, Lake City, Crested Butte, Saguache, Delta, Hotchkiss, Montrose, Paonia and Grand Junction. Copies of the FEIS and maps of the Preferred Alternative and the RODs are also available on the GMUG National Forest and BLM websites at: www.fs.fed.us/r2/gmug/policy/travel_mgmt/ and www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/gfo.html. For CD copies of the FEIS and maps, email r2_gmug_gunnison_travel@fs.fed.us or call (970) 874-6666. This decision is subject to appeal pursuant to 36 CFR 215.11 by individual or organizations meeting the requirements of 36 CFR 215.13.
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.
216 North Colorado Gunnison, CO 81230