For the past four years, the Monticello Field Office has worked with members of the public, organized groups, County, State and other Federal agencies to design a new land use plan.  On September 5, this effort culminated in the release of the Proposed Resource Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/FEIS).  This proposed plan reflects the current management situation and provides an updated framework of thoughtful decisions crafted to provide a balanced approach to managing many different uses on nearly 1.8 million acres of BLM lands. 

For decades, the Monticello Field Office planning area has been a vital component of the culture and economic livelihood of communities throughout San Juan County.  This same area provides incredible experiences for visitors who come to experience the scenery, cultural resources, and world-class recreational opportunities.

Managing our nation’s cherished public lands for multiple uses is a constant challenge.  Citizens expect the BLM to provide responsible energy and minerals development, recreational opportunities, appropriate access, and healthy landscapes.  There is an expectation that all of this will be accomplished while providing an adequate level of resource protection,  ensuring that future generations will continue to benefit from and enjoy these same areas.  To meet this challenge, the Monticello Field Office analyzed five multiple-use alternatives, in the November 2007 draft RMP/EIS.  In response, thousands of comments were received and all have been considered in the Proposed RMP/FEIS.

Within the Proposed Plan, a number of special designations would be applied to provide additional levels of resource protection where appropriate.  For example, 389,444 acres would continue to be managed as Wilderness Study Areas, while an additional 88,871 acres of non-WSA lands would be managed to preserve wilderness characteristics.  Together, these two designations represent nearly 27 percent of the field office area.  Seven Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs), comprising 73,492 acres, would be managed to protect and prevent damage to their relevance and importance. Four eligible river segments (a total of 35.7 miles) are recommended as suitable for Wild and Scenic River designation.  

The planning area contains some of the most concentrated, significant and unique natural and cultural resources in North America.  The Proposed Plan would recognize the need to protect these important areas while providing opportunities for the public to experience them recreationally by proposing to establish Special Recreation Management Areas (SRMAs) across 562,824 acres.  These SRMAs would provide more intensive management prescriptions in areas of concentrated recreational use such as the San Juan River, Cedar Mesa, and Indian Creek. To meet domestic energy needs, the Proposed Plan would provide adequate access for oil and gas leasing, managing 629,472 acres as open with standard stipulations.  An additional 631,850 acres would be available subject to timing limitations or controlled surface use stipulations designed to allow development while providing seasonal protection for wildlife and other resources.  Another 472,863 acres would be closed to oil and gas leasing and 50,943 acres would be managed with no surface occupancy stipulations to protect key natural areas, important river corridors, and prime viewsheds. 

At the core of the Proposed RMP is a travel management plan proposing route designations which would be perhaps the most substantial and far-reaching changes as compared to travel policies prescribed in the 1991 plan.  Travel plan changes are necessary due to the steady increase in motorized recreational use that has occurred on public lands over the past decade.  Designations of “open”, “limited to designated routes and trails”, or “closed” are proposed for every acre within the Monticello Field Office.  In contrast to the 1991 plan, which had allowed over 611,000 acres open to cross-country travel, the Proposed RMP designates zero acres as open.  The Proposed RMP would close 316 miles of designated routes, and would leave open approximately 1,942 miles of designated routes.  This corresponds to approximately 1,388,191 acres where travel would be limited to designated routes and trails.  The Proposed RMP would also close 393,895 acres to motorized use compared to the 1991 plan which closed 276,430 acres.

The Proposed Monticello RMP will serve as the primary management guide for BLM public land managers for years to come.   Thanks to the work of a dedicated BLM Planning Team, in conjunction with active participation and substantive comments from our cooperators and the general public, this document proposes to focus appropriate uses in suitable locations, reduce conflicts between users, protect resources, and provide adequate access for energy development.  While the Proposed RMP does not completely satisfy the interests of each individual user, it would provide the best balance of uses and protections necessary to meet the multiple-use mandate of the BLM and satisfies the present and future needs of the American people. 

Tom Heinlein
BLM Monticello Field Office Manager