BLM roads near Shelf Road Climbing Area sustain heavy damage
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Media Contact:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 29, 2013
Contact: Kyle Sullivan, Public Affairs Specialist, 303-239-3861
BLM roads near Shelf Road Climbing Area sustain heavy damage
CANON CITY, Colo. —On Thursday evening, heavy rain caused extensive damage to two roads in the Shelf Road area. Motorized travel on Cactus Cliff Road and Trail Gulch Road is not recommended at this time.
Trail Gulch Road, also referred to as BLM Road 5820, and Cactus Cliff Road sustained heavy damage on Aug. 22. Motorized access to the area will be more difficult and nearly impassable to full-sized vehicles in sections, which could affect hunters this season.
Trail Gulch Road is located above the Shelf Road Climbing Area; however, the road damage will not impact climbing access. Cactus Cliff Road is an administrative road, which provides access to a vault toilet in the climbing area and alterative access to nearby private lands.
“Given the current condition of this road, we strongly recommend against motorized travel,” said Keith Berger, BLM’s Field Manager for the Royal Gorge Field Office in Cañon City. “Until we can get repairs accomplished, it is simply not safe for travel.”
The BLM is currently investigating repair options. At this point, the BLM does not have an estimate on when the roads can be repaired.
The Royal Gorge Field Offices uses wet weather gates at the entry point to several roads in the area. When the gates are closed, motorized access is prohibited. These closures are necessary to reduce resource damage in wet weather. For information on the status of wet weather gates, call 719-269-8500, or visit the BLM website at www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/rgfo/recreation0.html.
Cactus Cliff Road sustained extensive damage from a localized storm cell Aug. 22. The BLM is recommending that motorized users avoid the road until repairs are completed.
A slow moving storm cell caused extensive damage on the Trail Gulch Road.
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.