was established by the Secretary of the Interior to provide advice or recommendations to BLM management in developing the Resource Management Plan for the NCA and Wilderness (Omnibus Act). The Advisory Council includes members appointed to represent categories established by the Omnibus Act. Council members will serve three year terms, and the Council may remain in existence for up to a year following completion of the plan. Recommendations are based on consensus-building and collaboration.

Below are the 10 members of the Advisory Council:

Advisory Council Chair Katie Steele of Grand Junction, is the co-chair of the Colorado Riverfront Commission and has chaired the Robb River Rally event in the Grand Valley. She was selected to represent dispersed recreation and historic resources.

Advisory Council Vice-Chair William "Bill" Harris of Montrose, a past representative of the International Mountain Biking Association and a current board member of the Colorado Plateau Mountain Biking Trail Association. He is also a past president of the Colorado Archaeological Society. He was selected after considering the recommendations of the Montrose County Commissioners. Bill also represents recreation, primarily mountain biking, and cultural resources.

Steve Acquafresca of Grand Junction, is a Mesa County Commissioner and fruit grower. He was selected after considering the recommendations of the Mesa County Commissioners.

Oscar Massey of Whitewater, is a rancher with federal grazing permits within the NCA since the mid 1970s. He was selected to represent grazing permit holders.

Tamera Minnick of Grand Junction, is an associate professor of Environmental Science and Technology at Mesa State College. She was selected to represent scientific, educational, and ecological values.

Terry Kimber of Delta, has been hiking, jeeping, hunting and camping in the NCA area for 30 years. He was selected to represent the traditional uses of hunting and dispersed recreation.

Neil “Mike” Wilson of Eckert, is a member of the Colorado Off Highway Vehicle Coalition and vice-president of Thunder Mountain Wheelers. He was selected to represent motorized recreation interests.

Joe Neuhof of Grand Junction, is the new executive director of the Colorado Canyons Association, a 501(c)(3) organization, and former Western Slope director of the Colorado Environmental Coalition. He was selected to represent environmental and wilderness values.

Steven Boyle, of Montrose, is the Principal at BIO-Logic, Inc., a natural resources consulting business. He is a wildlife and conservation biologist, formerly with the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He serves on the Gunnison Sage-grouse San Miguel Basin Working Group, and is active in the Black Canyon Regional Land Trust and other programs that promote conservation easements to protect working farms and ranches from development. He was selected to represent wildlife and ecological interests. He replaces Jason Beason of Paonia.

Doug Atchley, of Delta, is a Delta County Commissioner. He retired from banking in 2007, managing a group of Wells Fargo banks which included branches in Delta, Gunnison, Telluride and two in Montrose. He was a founding member of Delta Area Development Inc., and has served as chamber president. He operates a cattle ranch in Delta County. He was selected to represent Delta County. He replaces Jan McCracken of Delta.