Colorado Mesa University to Conduct a Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Recreation Study in August

Organization

Bureau of Land Management

BLM Office:

Kanab Field Office

Media Contact:

KANAB, Utah— Dr. Tim Casey with Colorado Mesa University returns to conduct recreation focus groups in conjunction with the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument 20th Anniversary Science Forum.  The focus groups will be held August 4th, 5th, and 6th in Tropic, Escalante, and Boulder, Utah.  The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) encourages the public to provide input that will be used to guide recreation management on BLM lands accessed via Highway 12 and the Burr Trail. 

This research project seeks to engage local leaders, business owners, residents, and visitors that either participate in recreational activities in this region, or have a stake in the quality of the experience of those that do.  During a focus group, a researcher asks a group of people about their perceptions, opinions, preferences, and attitudes towards, in this case, recreational use on public lands in this region.  The study will be conducted in an interactive group setting where participants are free to talk with other group members.

The purpose of the focus group study includes providing an open forum for dialogue with the public on recreation issues, and to obtain information for future planning efforts, while gathering data needed to better understand the public’s desires for recreation at the Monument.  Each session will last about two hours.  The dates, times, and locations are noted below.  A third and final round of focus groups will be held in October 2016.

 

DATE

TIME

LOCATION

ADDRESS

THURSDAY

August 4

7 PM

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Visitor Center Conference Room

755 West Main Street, Escalante, UT 84726

FRIDAY

August 5

11 AM

Tropic Heritage Center

 

20 North Main, Tropic, UT 84776

FRIDAY

August 5

2 PM

Escalante Community Center

 

89 North 100 West, Escalante, UT 84726

FRIDAY

August 5

7 PM

Escalante Community Center

 

89 North 100 West, Escalante, UT 84726

SATURDAY

August 6

10 AM

Boulder Community Center

 

351 North 100 East, Boulder, UT 84716


 
For more information about how to participate, please contact Allysia Angus, GSENM Landscape Architect at 435-826-5615 oraangus@blm.gov.  Or if you have questions about the research, please contact Dr. Tim Casey at 970-248-1095 ortcasey@coloradomesa.edu.


The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.