BLM Utah Updates: Treatments, Leasing Decisions, and Recreation Permits

BLM Treats Invasive Cheatgrass in Dolores Triangle Region and Spanish Valley

Beginning this week, as conditions prove favorable, approximately 18,000 acres of the annual grass commonly known as cheatgrass will be treated on BLM-managed lands in the Dolores Triangle Region and Spanish Valley. 7,000 acres will be treated with the preemergent herbicide, Imazapic (Plateau) and 11,000 acres will be seeded with native grasses.

Most of the treatment will be focused on the Dolores Triangle area, south of I70 near the UT/CO border. 500 acres of the treatment area will be south of the town of Moab in Spanish Valley and Hidden Valley areas. Fixed wing aircraft will aerially deliver seed to those locations previously treated with Plateau.

Cheatgrass is highly flammable and can rapidly carry fire across a landscape. The application of herbicide will prevent cheatgrass from germinating, mitigating competition for less flammable, native perennials and forbs on the landscape for up to five growing seasons. After the herbicide treatment, the BLM will wait two growing seasons before applying native seed to the treated landscape.

To learn how aerial herbicide treatment can help control wildfire spread, read our latest blog on the Prairie Fire, where previous treatments proved effective.

BLM Utah Signs Decision for 2025 Third Quarter Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale

The Bureau of Land Management Utah State Office has issued a decision on the Environmental Assessment, Finding of No Significant Impact and Decision Record for NEPA number: DOI-BLM-UT-0000-2025-0001-EA, the BLM Utah 2025 3rd Quarter Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale. The decision was to offer for sale 15 nominated lease parcels, encompassing 18,214.39 acres, on land managed by the Vernal and Richfield Field Offices. This Environmental Assessment has been prepared to disclose and analyze the potential environmental consequences of the project.

The Decision Record can be found at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2036690/570

For more information, please contact Nate Packer, Utah State Office, [email protected] or 801-539-4254.

BLM Authorizes Special Recreation Permit for West38Moto to lead Guided Motorcycle Trips within Bears Ears National Monument

The Bureau of Land Management Monticello Field Office has issued a categorical exclusion and decision record which authorizes the West38Moto Special Recreation Permit. The decision record can be found at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2040726/510. 

For more information, please contact Jill Stephenson at 435-259-2100 or [email protected].

BLM Moab Authorizes Multiple Special Recreation Permits and Augments Two Existing Permits

The Bureau of Land Management Moab Field Office has issued a categorical exclusion and decision record which authorizes three new special recreation permits (SRPs) and augments two existing SRPs. The decision record can be found at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2041300/510.

For more information regarding either of the Moab Field Office’s decisions, please contact Nicole Flint at 435-259-2163 or [email protected].

BLM Moab Authorizes a Parking Area in the Dolores Triangle Region

The Moab Field Office has also issued an environmental assessment and decision record which authorizes the designation and delineation of a 3.74-acre parking area in the Dolores Triangle region of the Moab Field Office. The decision record can be found at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2040525/510.

For more information regarding either of the Moab Field Office’s decisions, please contact Nicole Flint at 435-259-2163 or [email protected].