Bureau of Land Management proposes changes to camping, human waste management, and wood collection in the Klondike Bluffs area
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MOAB, Utah — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Moab Field Office is accepting comments on proposed supplementary rules to improve camping opportunities, require use of a portable or established toilet for human waste, and prohibit wood cutting and collecting in the Klondike Bluffs Mountain Bike Focus Area in Grand County, Utah. These changes are designed to protect natural, cultural, and paleontological resources and address concerns from the local community about human waste contamination. Comments will be accepted through Oct. 18, 2021.
“The establishment of supplementary rules, coupled with the decision to establish designated camping sites, will not only improve access to the Klondike Bluffs Mountain Bike Focus Area, but also revamp the visitor experience for mountain biking, hiking, trail running, camping, paleontological resource viewing, solitude, and wildlife viewing,” said BLM Moab Field Manager Nicollee Gaddis-Wyatt.
Klondike Bluffs includes a popular mountain bike trail system that has over 50 miles of world-class single-track trails. Mountain bike trails with names such as Jurassic, Dino Flow, Mega Steps, and Baby Steps are an ode to the area’s rich paleontological history and amazing dinosaur tracks. On busy weekends in Moab, the BLM sees hundreds of visitors camped on the side of the road to the Klondike Bluffs trails and many more trying to gain access to the trails and dinosaur track sites.
On Sept. 13, 2019, the BLM signed the Decision Record on the Klondike Bluffs campsite designations environmental assessment. This environmental assessment authorized the BLM to manage resource impacts from camping by providing visitors with developed campgrounds or designated campsites. The improper disposal of human waste, wood cutting, and hundreds of dispersed campsites within the 14,626-acre focus area are negatively impacting visitor experiences and cultural and natural resources. The Moab Field Office currently manages 1,677,207 acres of public lands that are available for dispersed camping. If the proposed rule is implemented, 1,662,581 acres or 91 percent of the field office would remain available for dispersed camping.
The proposed supplementary rules are available online at: http://go.usa.gov/xFf6n. Hard copies of the rules may also be obtained by visiting the Moab Field Office at 82 East Dogwood Avenue, Moab, UT 84532.
Written comments must be received or postmarked by Oct. 18, 2021. Please note the most useful comments are specific, confined to issues pertinent to these proposed supplementary rules, and explain the reason for any recommended change. Please reference “Klondike Bluffs Proposed Supplementary Rules” when submitting comments.
Written comments may be mailed, emailed, or hand delivered using the following:
- Mail: BLM Moab Field Office Attn: Katie Stevens, 82 East Dogwood, Moab, UT 84532
- Email: kstevens@blm.gov
Before including an address, telephone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in any comments, be aware that the entire comment—including personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. Requests to withhold personal identifying information from public review can be submitted, but the BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
For additional information regarding the proposal, contact Katie Stevens at (435) 259-2172. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question for the above individual. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours.
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.