National Conservation Areas (NCA) are designated by Congress to conserve, protect, enhance, and manage public lands for the enjoyment of present and future generations. NCAs offer visitors landscapes with exceptional natural, recreational, cultural, wildlife, aquatic, archeological, paleontological, historical, educational or scientific resources. There are three NCAs in Colorado:
THE GUNNISON GORGE NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA encompasses 62,844 acres of public lands downstream from the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The landscape ranges from adobe badlands, to rugged pinion-juniper covered slopes, to the spectacular river canyon of the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness. There are numerous activities available in the NCA such as wilderness whitewater kayaking and rafting, flat-water boating, gold medal trout fishing, big-game hunting for mule deer and elk, off-highway vehicle use, mountain biking, sightseeing, photography, and wilderness hiking and backpacking. BLM is improving habitat for native plant and animal species, including: the endangered clay-loving buckwheat and Uinta Basin hookless cactus, and the Gunnison sage-grouse (a BLM-sensitive species). This NCA is managed by the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office.
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