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Facts about the Emerald Mountain land Exchange

  • Under the proposed land exchange, BLM would acquire the approximately 4,139-acre Emerald Mountain parcel just west of Steamboat Springs from the Colorado State Land Board in exchange for 123 isolated BLM parcels totaling approximately 15,416 acres.

  • Two of the selected federal parcels were dropped from further consideration due to disagreement by the affected private participants with the approved appraised values.  To equalize the value of the land exchange package, four selected parcels of Federal land which were proposed to be conveyed to the Colorado State Land Board were dropped.

  • The Emerald Mountain parcel had been slated for sale as part of the State Land Board's fiscal mandate to generate revenue for the state's school system. Through this multi-party exchange, the BLM parcels will be acquired by the State Board, with the revenue generated going to the Land Board to benefit Colorado schools.

  • This is a value-for-value exchange based on land appraisals by the Department of Interior.

  • Because these BLM lands being exchanged are mostly small, isolated parcels that have little to no public access, they are difficult for BLM to effectively manage.

  • Of the 15,416 BLM acres identified for exchange, 76 percent have no public access, while 13 percent are accessible only by foot or horseback and 11 percent have public access from a road.

  • The average size of the BLM parcels identified for exchange is 125 acres. They range from less than 2 acres to 1,071 acres.

  • The majority of public comments received support the land exchange. BLM has also received letters of support from Colorado Governor Bill Owens, Sen. Wayne Allard, Routt County Board of County Commissioners, the City of Steamboat Springs, the Community Alliance of the Yampa Valley, the Steamboat Springs Downtown Business Association, and the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association.

  • BLM is working closely on the exchange with the Emerald Mountain Partnership and the City of Steamboat Springs.

  • BLM has released for public review an Environmental Analysis that analyzes the exchange as well as four management alternatives should the exchange take place.

  • BLM will accept public comment on the Environmental Assessment through May 1, 2006. For more information or to receive copies of the environmental assessment, visit the Little Snake Field Office web site at www.co.blm.gov/lsra/lsraindex.htm or contact Louise McMinn, BLM Little Snake Field Office, at 970-826-5001.

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