BLM to hold public meeting on Gateway recreation plan
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    The Bureau of Land Management Grand Junction Field Office (GJFO) has kicked off a recreation planning effort for the 198,000-acre Gateway Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) that would amend the 1987 Grand Junction Resource Area Resource Management Plan. The amendment would change the current RMP by designating travel opportunities, addressing commercial, competitive, special area, and organized group activities and events, identifying recreation needs, and defining recreation management objectives.

    The planning area is located in remote Mesa and Montrose counties; the planning process is anticipated to take about 12 months to complete.

    "Public lands in the Gateway area are no longer a secret ‒ the word is getting out," BLM Field Manager Catherine Robertson said. "BLM has a unique opportunity to be proactive in planning for the increased use the area is already seeing. We think it's important to make changes now to provide for better resource protections and quality recreational experiences in the future."

    Recreation Area Management Plans (RAMP) are becoming an important tool to public land managers as more people make public lands their choice destination, BLM officials said.

    There will be several opportunities for the public to participate in this planning process, beginning with a 30-day public scoping comment period intended to identify issues and concerns, and provide BLM valuable information about the project for consideration during the environmental review process.  

    A recreation benefit study was conducted by Arizona State University, with assistance from Mesa State College, to provide a better snapshot of what kind of experiences those visiting the Gateway area were having and to find out what they wanted to see more of in the future, according to a BLM news release. Both surveys and focus group meetings were used last summer during the study to develop a report on the findings.

    To also facilitate the planning process, the SRMA has been segmented into 10 recreation management zones (RMZ). Public meetings will be held in Grand Junction and Gateway to discuss these zones and the project in further detail.

    The Grand Junction meeting is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 8, at the Grand Junction Field Office located at 2815 H Road. The Gateway meeting is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10, at the Gateway Community Center near U.S. 141 at mile marker 111.

    The public may submit written comments by mail to BLM Grand Junction Field Office, Attn: Gateway Plan, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506; by fax to 970-244-3083; or by e-mail to GJFO_webmail@blm.gov.

    Planning documents will be available for review at the Grand Junction Field Office or on-line at www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/gjfo.html. For additional information, contact outdoor recreation planner Ken Straley at 970-244-3031.
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