| Contacts: | Denise Adamic, BLM (719) 269-8553 |
BLM asks for public input on Special Recreation Permit applications (01-08-13)
SALIDA, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public input on recreational use in the Methodist Mountain and Arkansas Hills areas near Salida, so the agency can analyze three Special Recreation Permit applications for those areas.
An SRP is one tool the BLM has to balance visitor use with protecting natural and cultural resources on public lands.
Based on the submitted applications and the BLM’s current visitor-use data, the Royal Gorge Field Office anticipates if these permits were approved, the areas could see a 20 percent increase in use or about 20 more recreationists per day. Most use would occur on the Little Rainbow Trail in the Methodist Mountain area.
Written comments must be received by Feb. 8, 2013, and may be submitted via e-mail to BLM_CO_RG_Comments@blm.gov with “Salida SRPs” in the subject line. Comments may also be sent by mail to BLM Royal Gorge Field Office, Attn: “Salida SRPs,” 3028 East Main, Cañon City, Colo. 81212. The most helpful comments address concerns regarding the increase in users on the trail systems.
The public is reminded that before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask the BLM in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, the BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
For more information, please contact Linda Skinner, BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner at 719-269-8732 or via e-mail at lskinner@blm.gov
The number of SRP requests in Chaffee County is on the rise. The BLM attributes this increase to new non-motorized trail systems on BLM-managed lands near Salida. The RGFO has issued six recreation permits for the trail systems on BLM-managed lands in Methodist Mountain and Arkansas Hills: three have been for commercial mountain-bike guiding, and three have been for competitive events such as mountain biking and running races.
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.
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