The Kanab field office has just released for review its Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement.  This plan addresses a wide variety of land management issues including recreation.  The BLM manages recreation opportunities to enhance the quality of the outdoor experience, and to serve diverse recreational interests, while minimizing conflicts between various kinds of users.  The goal is to meet public demand for outdoor recreation opportunities while also preventing or minimizing adverse impacts to the natural and cultural elements of Utah’s public lands.  However, recreation on public land is a limited and precious resource whose long-term use depends on the users’ responsible and ethical behavior.

BLM-managed public lands offer more diverse recreational opportunities than any other federal agency.  Although the BLM manages for many different uses, the vast majority of the American public’s interaction with the BLM and their public lands is through recreational pursuits.  As a result, the BLM contributes to the local economy.  In 2007, the Kanab field office issued 30 Special Recreation Use Permits for a variety of commercial and organized group recreation activities including off-highway vehicle tours, outfitting and guiding for a variety of activities, scenic tours and hunting.  

In the resource management planning process, BLM recreation management includes designating two types of areas – Special Recreation Management Areas and the Extensive Recreation Management Area.
 
Special Recreation Management Areas are those areas committed to specific recreational activities and opportunities, and where there are public recreation issues or management concerns.  Special, or more intensive, types of management are typically needed.  These areas often have high levels of recreation activity combined with valuable natural resources.  Extensive Recreation Management Areas are areas in which recreation is non-specialized and dispersed and does not require intensive management.
 
Existing management plans for the Kanab Field Office are nearly 30 years old and did not anticipate the rapid growth in and demand for recreation opportunities and activities.  In 2007 alone, BLM Utah hosted nearly seven million visitors.  The Kanab field office hosted 175,000 visitors, taking part in a diverse range of activities including bicycling, camping, off-highway vehicle riding, horseback riding, picnicking, viewing scenery and wildlife, hunting, hiking and backpacking.  BLM’s use data estimates that public lands visitors participate in more than 65 different types of recreation activities.

Current Kanab management plans feature no Special Recreation Management Areas but BLM proposes to change that situation.  As part of the land use planning process, BLM conducted careful review and analysis of all recreation areas and the type and amount of use they receive.  As a result of this analysis, the BLM is proposing to establish six new Special Recreation Management Areas totaling 95,000 acres – Kanab Community, Paria, Moquith Mountain, Orderville Canyon, North Fork Virgin River and Escalante. 

Finalizing and implementing these new resource management plans will help BLM meet the multiple-use mission of serving the diverse outdoor recreation demands of visitors, while providing opportunities for environmentally responsible recreation.

Harry Barber
Bureau of Land Management
Kanab Field Office Manager