Uncompahgre Field Office

The Uncompahgre Field Office (UFO) manages nearly 900,000 acres of public land in BLM Colorado's Southwest District, including four river systems—the Gunnison, San Miguel, Dolores, and Uncompahgre—as well as over 2.3 million sub-surface acres of federal minerals. The topography ranges from lowland riparian along the Dolores River (at around 4,700 feet) to red rock desert to a moonscape of highly erodible Mancos Shale badlands to the piñon-juniper woodlands of the Uncompahgre Plateau.

Field Office Spotlight

Dan Ben-Horin begins new role as BLM Uncompahgre Field Manager

On July 1, Dan Ben-Horin began in his new role as Field Manager for the Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Field Office in Montrose, Colorado. Ben-Horin will oversee the multiple use management of nearly 900,000 acres of public land and over 2.3 million acres of federal mineral estate in BLM Colorado’s Southwest District.

Dan is well known to many in western Colorado, where he served as the National Conservation Lands Specialist for the Grand Junction Field Office since 2016. During that time, he emphasized community involvement in managing public lands and took on a number of temporary assignments that bolstered his BLM leadership experience.

“We are so pleased to welcome Dan to the BLM Colorado Southwest District from our neighboring Upper Colorado River District,” said District Manager Stephanie McCormick. “His diverse background in public lands management will be a perfect fit for the wide range of great work being accomplished in the Uncompahgre Field Office. We’re especially excited to gain Dan’s appreciation for the value of robust collaboration with our partners and the public.”

Ben-Horin holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Hofstra University and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning, with a concentration in land use and environmental planning, from the University of Colorado Denver. In addition, he is a graduate of the Presidential Management Fellowship class of 2016 and part of BLM’s Emerging Leaders class of 2023. Dan is married to his best friend Amy, a small business owner and animal lover. In their free time, they relish exploring the public lands of western Colorado.

“It is an honor to join the Uncompahgre Field Office team and I’m thrilled to be working with such a passionate and dedicated staff,” said Ben-Horin. "The UFO has spectacular public land resources and I’m looking forward to creating meaningful relationships with our local communities and partners to ensure their sound management.”

Fuelwood Permits

The Uncompahgre Field Office offers the purchase of fuelwood permits online. To purchase a permit visit forestproducts.blm.gov, answer the questions, and review the terms and conditions. Payment information is collected through a secure government payment site. Please print and keep a copy of your permit for law enforcement officers to check.

Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area

Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (GGNCA) was designated in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area Act of 1999. GGNCA is part of the Uncompahgre Field Office.