blm colorado canyons of the ancients national monument october 2007 draft resource management plan...
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BLM ColoradoBLM ColoradoCanyons of the Ancients Canyons of the Ancients
National MonumentNational Monument
October 2007October 2007
Draft Resource Management Plan – Draft Resource Management Plan – Draft Environmental Impact StatementDraft Environmental Impact Statement
Containing the highest known density of archaeological Containing the highest known density of archaeological sites in the Nation…natural resources and spectacular sites in the Nation…natural resources and spectacular landforms…rugged and dissected geology…and wildlife landforms…rugged and dissected geology…and wildlife species…I proclaim for the purpose of protecting the species…I proclaim for the purpose of protecting the objects identified above…Canyons of the Ancients objects identified above…Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.National Monument.
The ProclamationThe Proclamation2
Planning AreaPlanning Area 165,000 acres public land surface165,000 acres public land surface 18,000 acres private land surface18,000 acres private land surface 80% currently leased for fluid 80% currently leased for fluid
minerals developmentminerals development Montezuma and Dolores CountiesMontezuma and Dolores Counties
Cultural ResourcesCultural Resources Grazing AdministrationGrazing Administration Fluid MineralsFluid Minerals RecreationRecreation TransportationTransportation
Major Planning IssuesMajor Planning Issues
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Consultation and CoordinationConsultation and Coordination
FEDERAL USDOI National Park Service, Hovenweep National Monument
USDOI Fish and Wildlife Service(Cooperating Agency)
USDOI BLM Utah, Monticello Field OfficeUSDA Forest Service, San Juan National Forest
Fluid minerals development and viewsheds
Herptological species
No concerns expressedNo concerns expressed
STATE Colorado Historical Society (Cooperating Agency), Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation
Colorado Division of Wildlife
Cultural resource management, stabilization, vandalism, tribal interests
Hunting, law enforcement, reintroduction of bighorn sheep
LOCAL Montezuma Board of County Commissioners Dolores Board of County Commissioners
Canyons of the Ancients Advisory Committee
Constraints to grazing and fluid mineral development
Cultural resources, grazing, fluid minerals, recreation, transportation, private land
TRIBAL CONSULTATION
The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; The Uintah-Ouray Ute Tribe; The Southern Ute Tribe; The Navajo Nation; The Hopi Tribe; and The Pueblos of Acoma, Cochiti, Isleta, Jemez, Laguna, Nambe, Picuris, Pojoaque, Sandia, San Felipe, San Ildefonso, San Juan, Santa Ana, Santa Clara, Santo Domingo, Taos, Tesuque, Zia, and Zuni
Multiple use impacts to ancestral sites and landscapes; research; interpretation; access for traditional use
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ALTERNATIVESALTERNATIVES
Alternative INo Action
Continuation of current management as specified in the San Juan/San Miguel RMP and ROD (1985) and Amendments and the Anasazi ACEC Management Plan (1986), USDOI and BLM Interim Management, and the Mail Trail Settlement Agreement.
Emphasizes landscape-scale cultural resource values, i.e. communities, sites and isolated finds communities, sites and isolated finds and including tribal tribal valuesvalues, cultural resource protection, and natural resource protection and enhancement.
Alternative II
Emphasizes cultural resource site protection, i.e. communities and sitescommunities and sites, and natural resource values, while providingproviding for resource use and development.
Alternative III
Emphasizes cultural resource site protection, i.e. communities and sitescommunities and sites, and natural resource values, while encouragingencouraging resource use and development.
Alternative IV
Emphasizes cultural resource values, i.e. communities, sites communities, sites and including tribal values tribal values, cultural resource and natural resource protection and enhancement, while providing providing for resource use and development.
Alternative VPreferred Alternative
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Cultural Cultural Resources:Resources: Alternatives Alternatives ComparisonComparison
Cultural Resources:Cultural Resources: Alternatives ComparisonAlternatives Comparison
Alternative I (No Action) Alternative V (Preferred)
Allocate sites for uses:- Scientific/Research- Conservation- Traditional- Public- Experimental- Discharged
Implement Outdoor Museum concept
Allocate all sites for- Scientific/Research- Conservation- Traditional- ExperimentalAllocate 13-25 sites for- PublicAllocate 0 sites for- Discharged
Stabilize or repair 240 sites Stabilize after human-caused impacts only;otherwise document standing walls and allow to deteriorate
Conduct Class III inventory of 15 cultural resource emphasis areas
Conduct Class III inventory of areas receiving high public use
BLM staff develops research goals BLM staff develops research goals w/ professional peer review
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Grazing:Grazing: Alternatives ComparisonAlternatives ComparisonAlternative I
(No Action)
Alternative V
(Preferred)
Permit 8,492 AUMs
Permit 6,437 AUMs
Administer 28 allotments
Administer 23 allotments
Establish no common reserves
Establish common reserve allotments
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Fluid Minerals:Fluid Minerals: Alternatives ComparisonAlternatives Comparison
Alternative I
(No Action)
Alternative V
(Preferred)
Defer leasing until completion of the RMP/EIS
143,500 acres (80%) currently leased for fluid minerals development; 21,500 acres (20%) not leased
Lease up to 880 new acres for drainage only
No Surface Occupancy
Average 2 to 4 new well locations/year on existing leases; 121 new locations in 20 years
Estimate 2 new well locations in 20 years on currently unleased land
Meet Section 106 requirements
Protect cultural resource communities and sites
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Recreation:Recreation: Alternatives Alternatives ComparisonComparison
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Recreation:Recreation: Alternatives ComparisonAlternatives ComparisonAlternative I
(No Action)
Alternative V
(Preferred)
Develop no promotion strategy; develop facilities as needed; maintain facilities at Lowry, Painted Hand, and Sand Canyon Pueblo
Promote an undeveloped management strategy for Sand Canyon-Rock Creek, Mockingbird, Goodman and Squaw/Cross Canyon (4) SRMAs; promote a destination management strategy for AHC and Pueblo Sites (2) SRMAs
Continue dispersed recreational camping
Prohibit recreational shooting and geocaching
Allow climbing only in designated areas
Prohibit camping and campfires in Pueblo Sites, Sand Canyon-Rock Creek and AHC SRMAs; allow camping and campfires in all other SRMAs
Allow no new commercial permits
Allow up to 10 recreation special use permits
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Transportation:Transportation: Alternatives ComparisonAlternatives Comparison12
Transportation:Transportation: Alternatives ComparisonAlternatives Comparison
Alternative I (No Action) Alternative V (Preferred)
Total roads (public access + Administrative) = 149 miles
Total roads (public access + Administrative) = 169 miles
OHV travel classified as Closed on 25,976 acres and Limited on 138,024 acres; travel on designated roads only
OHV travel classified as Closed on 38,598 acres and Limited on 126,737 acres; travel on designated roads only
Sand Canyon Trail authorized for primitive non-motorized use (foot, bicycle, or horse) 1987 Cultural Resource Mgmt Plan
Proclamation prohibits all motorized and mechanized use off road, except for emergency or authorized administrative purposes.
Sand Canyon and East Rock “Roads” authorized for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding
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DRMP/DEIS defines a “road” as an open way for the passage of vehicles, persons, or animals on land.“Off-road” is defined as cross-country travel between designated roads. All off-road travel by motorized and/or mechanized vehicles is prohibited on the Monument.
Canyons of the Ancients Canyons of the Ancients Key DatesKey Dates
Alternative Formulation
Analysis of Management Situation2005
Notice of Availability Draft Environmental Impact Statement
September 2007
Public Scoping PeriodApril 2002 to November 2003
Preparation of Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Federal Register Notice of IntentApril 2002
Notice of Availability FinalEnvironmental Impact Statement
Spring 2008
Resource Management PlanImplementation
Preparation of Final EnvironmentalImpact Statement
Record of DecisionResource Management Plan
September 2008
90-Day Public Comment PeriodSeptember 2007 to January 2008
Protest Period/Governor’s Consistency Review
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A Planned Romance…. We are moving into an era of managed remoteness, of planned romance. I think that is probably how it has to be if we are to preserve the qualities of the area at all in an increasingly mobile and exploitive society. The challenge is to have an effective management that does not itself overwhelm the values it is designed to protect. Bill Lipe 1980
The Outdoor MuseumThe Outdoor Museum15