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• Cedar Mountain Road Closure Protects Nesting Raptors

  The upper portion of the Cedar Mountain road five miles northwest of Craig will be closed to motorized vehicles from April 9 through early- to mid-summer to protect nesting raptors.

  This road will remain open to the day-use and trailhead parking area at Cedar Mountain.  The road and trails on Cedar Mountain remain open to hiking and mountain biking.  Motor vehicle access will be permitted for required maintenance of communications equipment.

  Click here to view the entire news release.

• Fire Officials Urge Caution with Spring Burning

  Fire has historically been used as a tool this time of year by the agricultural community and property owners to remove refuse, promote grass regeneration, and replenish nutrients to the soil. Conditions are often optimal for burning in early spring, before green-up and spring moisture. But these same spring conditions can lead to hazardous burning conditions.  

  • Contact your sheriff’s department before burning
  • Be aware of expected weather conditions for your burn day – winds can be erratic this time of year
  • Avoid windy and excessively warm and dry days – fire spreads quickly under these conditions
  • Advise your neighbors of your plans to burn so they don’t panic or call in a false fire report   
  • Keep a shovel and plenty of water handy to extinguish the fire
  • Never leave a fire unattended even for a few minutes
  • Dig a fire line or break if there’s a chance the fire may not stop where you want
  • Visit http://www.crh.noaa.gov/gjt/ for more weather information

Click here to view the entire news release.

• Public Comment Period Extended for Additional Air Quality Assessment to support the Little Snake Draft RMP

The Little Snake Field Office is in the process of revising its Resource Management Plan (RMP). The plan will provide a framework to guide subsequent management decisions on approximately 1.3 million surface acres and 1.9 million subsurface acres administered by the Little Snake Field Office in Moffat, Routt, and Rio Blanco counties. The Draft RMP/EIS was released for a 90-day public comment period in February 2007. BLM is currently analyzing the public comments and developing the Proposed RMP/Final EIS. 

The Draft Additional Air Quality Assessment to Support the BLM Little Snake Field Office Draft RMP/EIS is available for public comment.  The public comment period closes January 5, 2009.  The document was prepared by the BLM as a result of comments received on the Draft RMP/EIS from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  This hypothetical air quality assessment provides additional information and analysis using the CALPUFF-lite modeling system. 

• View the News Release
• View the Little Snake Resource Management Plan web page

• Emerald Mountain Trail Work Continues

In June 2007, John E. Husband, Field Manager of the BLM Little Snake Field Office, issued a decision approving the Emerald Mountain Recreation Implementation Plan (IP). Construction soon began on the Ridge Trail to connect Blackmere Drive Trail to Cow Creek Road. In August 2007, Phase 1 of trail construction was completed and the 4,139 acre parcel was officially open for recreational use.  

Work continues on the Ridge Trail and the BLM anticipates that it will probably be another year before the trail will be completely done through the hard work and dedication of the Rocky Mountain Youth Corp and the Routt County Riders. The trail is currently being used by mountain bikers, horseback riders, and hikers. Although the trail is not complete to BLM standards, it continues to receive a positive response and increased use as more people become aware of the recreational opportunities that Emerald Mountain provides to the local community and visitors to the area.

Through a GOCO grant received by the City of Steamboat Springs, one of BLM’s partners in the management of Emerald Mountain, the Little Snake Field Office has released the Final copy of the Emerald Mountain Special Recreation Management Area Implementation Plan Amendment.   This plan will help clarify the goals and objectives of the original IP for future trail and facilities development, rules and regulations, and other issues. Six public meetings were held to solicit public input.

With the completion of the IP Amendment, the BLM and its Partners can successfully manage Emerald Mountain for recreation, wildlife, and agricultural needs.

• View the Implementation Plan Amendment
• View the Ridge Trail Map
• View the Emerald Mountain Exchange/Planning information

• New 1:100,000 maps available for purchase

The new updated Craig, Meeker, Rangely, Steamboat Springs and Walden 1:100,000 BLM maps are now available to purchase.  The maps are $4.00 each and you can stop by our office, call in an order with your credit card or click here for more details on the maps and purchasing information.

The Canyon of Lodore map is in the process of being updated and should be available for purchase later this year.

Bureau of Land Management in Northwest Colorado...

The Little Snake Field Office encompasses 4.2 million acres of federal, state and private lands in Moffat, Routt, and Rio Blanco counties.  Of the total area, 1.3 million acres are public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and 1.1 million acres of the private and state lands are underlain by federally owned minerals.  Resource activities include:  wildlife, cultural resources, grazing, energy & minerals, rights-of-ways, paleontological resources and recreation.

Take a photo tour of Little Snake

John Husband, Field Manager