BLM approves travel plan providing for diverse recreational opportunities and access
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MEEKER, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management announced today that it has signed the Decision Record approving the Travel Management Resource Management Plan Amendment for the 1.5-million acre White River Field Office in northwestern Colorado. The decision provides access for diverse recreational opportunities, including off-road motorized areas and places for high-quality big game hunting in non-motorized areas.
The vast majority of the lands managed by the field office (1.29 million acres) would allow motorized travel on designated routes. Two areas would be open to cross-country motorized travel (with two more to be approved in a later decision). Twelve areas would continue to allow non-motorized access, including nine areas where big-game hunting would be emphasized. The designations would not change the status of several Wilderness Study Areas. These area designations provide the guidance for future route-by-route designations, the next step for developing a comprehensive travel network across the field office.
“We worked very closely with local officials and the public to develop this comprehensive approach,” said White River Field Manager Kent Walter. “It offers a variety of opportunities balanced with protecting sensitive areas and resources.”
“Rio Blanco County's socioeconomic well-being, health, safety and culture are strongly affected by how public lands within the County are managed. The County appreciates the efforts of the BLM White River Field Office to address our concerns, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with BLM in the implementation of this plan,” said the Rio Blanco County Board of County Commissioners.
The BLM's White River Field Office administers nearly 1.5 million BLM surface acres and more than 2.1 million subsurface acres in Rio Blanco, Moffat and Garfield counties. These lands include 14 recreation sites; one National Scenic Byway and one National Historic District; 6 Wilderness Study Areas (81,000 acres); habitat for 8 federally protected Endangered, Threatened, and Candidate species (7 listed, 1 candidate); 122,000 acres of priority habitat and 180,200 acres of general habitat for Greater Sage Grouse; as well as more than 1.4 million acres of livestock grazing.
Last year, recreation on BLM-managed lands in Colorado generated $652 million and supported more than 5,000 jobs.
The signed Decision of Record is online at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/57005/510.
The approved plan is online at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/57005/510.
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.