| Contacts: | David Boyd, Public Affairs Specialist, (970) 876-9008 |
Emerald Mountain trails open early (05-14-12)
CRAIG, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management has lifted the seasonal closures in the Emerald Mountain Special Recreation Management Area near Steamboat Springs early this year due to unseasonable warm weather.
The majority of the Emerald Mountain SRMA is normally closed from Dec. 1 to June 30 to protect wintering and calving elk. Only the Ridge Trail and the area north of the Ridge Trail are open during the closure period. This closure corresponds with Colorado Parks and Wildlife lands to the east of the SRMA and the Humble Ranch property to the southeast.
“After discussions with CPW, all public lands at the Emerald Mountain SRMA will be open for recreational use due to the warm weather this year,” said BLM Field Manager Wendy Reynolds.
For further information, contact Gina Robison at (970) 826-5083, or log on to http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/lsfo/plans/emerald_mtn.html.
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.
455 Emerson Street Craig, CO 81625