BLM seeks public review of EA covering potential wild horse gathers
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MEEKER, Colo. – As part of its mission to manage public lands for multiple uses, the Bureau of Land Management has released an environmental assessment for public review that analyzes removing wild horses from areas outside the Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area in northwestern Colorado.
“The BLM is committed to maintaining a healthy wild horse population on healthy rangelands in the Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area,” said BLM Acting White River Field Manager Lauren Brown. “Wild horses that stray from the established Herd Management Area need to be removed to reduce conflicts with other resources and private land under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.”
The EA is a baseline document for potential future wild horse removals outside the HMA over the next several years that could include using helicopters and/or bait- and water-trapping. It specifically includes a proposed helicopter gather this fall to remove 72 wild horses outside the HMA.
The BLM currently estimates there are 210 wild horses outside the HMA within the analysis area, which includes about 773,000 acres in the White River Field Office east of Colorado Highway 139, south of Colorado Highway 64 and west of Colorado Highway 13. The analysis area and EA do not include the West Douglas Herd Area, which is west of Colorado Highway 139.
The environmental assessment including maps is available at http://bit.ly/2rDXBi1.
Public comments will be most helpful to the BLM if received by July 5, 2017. Written comments can be mailed to the White River Field Office 220 East Market St., Meeker, CO 81641, or submitted via email to blm_co_wild_horse_management@
The Piceance-East Douglas HMA covers more than 190,000 acres in northwestern Colorado. The BLM manages the area for an appropriate management level of between 135 and 235 wild horses. The current population estimate within the HMA is 454 wild horses.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or any other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While individuals may request BLM to withhold personal identifying information from public view, the BLM cannot guarantee it will be able to do so.
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.