BLM seeks comments on additions to Salida area trails
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CANON CITY, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management Royal Gorge Field Office is seeking comments on a draft environmental assessment on a proposal to add new non-motorized trails to the Arkansas Hills and Methodist Mountain Trail Systems outside of Salida.
The Methodist Mountain Trail System connects riders from the Rainbow Trail to Salida, while the Arkansas Hills Trail System is appreciated for its close proximity to town and south facing slopes. In 2010, a BLM trail counter registered more than 10,000 users, by 2013 that number jumped to 17,286, demonstrating that these trails are prized by Salida.
Salida Mountain Trails approached the BLM with a proposal to build connections between trails, create easy to navigate loops and diversify experiences. The BLM sought public feedback on the proposal in 2015, which resulted in additional research, changes to what was originally proposed and a range of alternatives that balance impacts to other resources, including critical winter wildlife habitat.
The BLM’s draft EA documents these findings, identifies the range of alternatives that are being considered and the associated environmental impacts. Specific details about the project, including a description of the proposed new trails and a map, are available on the BLM’s ePlanning webpage at: http://bit.ly/2aMrOY1.
The BLM is seeking public comments through Sept. 19, 2016. Comments concerning the proposed action, alternatives and identification of environmental issues are most helpful. For additional information or to submit a comment, please contact Kalem Lenard at 719-269-8538 or email comments to rgfo_comments@blm.gov.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Thank you for your interest in the management of your public lands within the Royal Gorge Field Office.
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.