BLM announces public comment period for Proposed North Platte River Commercial Guide Plan
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CASPER, Wyo. – The BLM is taking public comment on a proposed plan to manage commercial fishing guides using public lands along the North Platte River. The BLM welcomes and values the public’s diverse views, which will assist in producing a working plan for commercial fishing guides on public lands along this Blue Ribbon Trout Stream.
Due to continual annual demand for new commercial guiding permits and direction contained in the North Platte Special Recreation Management Area decision from 2006, the BLM is considering allowing additional commercial guiding permits for selected sections of the North Platte River, Gray Reef to Casper, while allowing current commercial guiding permit-holders to operate with no changes to their current operations. There are no changes to public recreational fishing access currently being considered.
The BLM believes that partnership and collaboration are vital to managing sustainable, working public lands.
BLM is closely coordinating with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to confirm that changes to the number of commercial guides along the North Platte River would not negatively impact fish populations.
The North Platte River is a famous river that delivers a premier visitor experience to recreational users. In order to more fully capture the impacts to the visitor experience by changes to commercial fishing guide numbers, the BLM is seeking comments from all recreational, commercial, and organized users as well as landowners along the North Platte River to provide their thoughts on what they would like to be considered in this proposed plan and how changes to commercial fishing guide numbers would impact their experience.
The BLM will accept written comments on the proposed plan until April 13, 2018. Written comments can be submitted by email or mail. Email comments can be submitted to casper_wymail@blm.gov. Written comments can be submitted to the address below.
Bureau of Land Management, Casper Field Office
Attn: Tammy Owens
2987 Prospector Drive
Casper, WY 82604
For more information, contact Tammy Owens at 307-261-7644.
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.