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Protest To Be Held For BLM Resource Management Plan

by KREX News Room
by Courtney Griffin

Story Created: Mar 7, 2013 at 5:53 PM MDT

Story Updated: Mar 7, 2013 at 6:52 PM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- The Bureau of Land Management has come out with their preferred plan for managing roads and trails, but it's not sitting well with many people in Western Colorado.

Friday, there will be a protest held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside the BLM office in Grand Junction to voice their opinions on the preferred alternative.

Officials say one million acres of land managed by the BLM is under Resource Management Plan which occurs every 20 years.

There are four alternatives, but one of the limitations on the preferred option would cut off highway vehicle open areas from 12,500 acres to 5,400 acres.

Concerned citizens say limiting that much access would create a safety hazard, but BLM officials say there's a lot of misinformation.

"We're not closing off any land. We are looking at a variety of alternatives for managing roads. The intent is still to allow access into areas, but there might be fewer roads, and often cases you have redundant roads. Two roads that go to the same place, do we need both? Those roads, those [questions] are the types of things that we are asking. Maybe we do, maybe it makes sense because it's a nice loop trail, but we're not closing public lands," said David Boyd, public affairs specialist with the BLM.

Opponents say putting all those motorists into a smaller area is problematic.

"Campers, motorcycles, ATV, hunters; we're concerned that 60 to 70 percent of our access is going to be closed down in the next couple of years. We're getting together to show that we're not happy with that, and more importantly, we want the community to get involved
to make comments during this RMP process," said Brandon Siegfried, public land access advocate.

The BLM encourages everyone to make a comment or submit a detailed written comment with any concerns.

The BLM will hold a meeting April 6, at the Two Rivers Convention Center from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. discussing all four of the alternatives.

They've also extended the public comment time to June 24.

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AGAINST BLM's proposal to close access said on Friday, Mar 8 at 7:48 PM

Dear BLM, Please include these comments in your document. I'm against any further closing's of trails and access. It's our land. You already closed a ton of access along the river in Fruita at McInnis Canyons and ruined the recreational value and joy of wandering. You already ruined it vegetatively years ago as an agency by introducing non-native range species, cheatgrass and annual wheatgrass. It'll never be restored to what you think it was. Your continuing effort is futile. I pay my federal taxes and I want access to my federal lands.

Disgusted said on Friday, Mar 8 at 12:50 AM

Wow, elections have consequences. How about that?

Guest Johnny said on Thursday, Mar 7 at 11:20 PM

Yes, and their own analysis concluded that the 'status quo' option equates to minimal environmental impact. In other words they are stirring the pot because they can.

GJ Native2 said on Thursday, Mar 7 at 8:34 PM

So BLM is saying they are closing roads simply because they exist. That is not a legitimate reason to close a road under federal guidelines.

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