THE PRELIMINARY BLM EA/RMZ DOCUMENT IS OUT –
PLEASE READ AND WRITE A LETTER TO SUPPORT ALTERNATIVE 2/B
PLEASE READ AND WRITE A LETTER TO SUPPORT ALTERNATIVE 2/B
Here in the Roaring Fork Valley, we have just entered into a 30 Day Comment period ( Final Day is November 5, 2018 ) regarding the Historic Sutey Ranch recreational plan.
The public comment period for the Preliminary Draft Sutey Ranch Land Use Plan Amendment is open and will end on November 5, 2018.
We are asking all interested groups, hikers, outdoor lovers, clubs, animal lovers and individuals to participate in the process. Posted here on October 6, 2018 the link to the BLM EA/RMPA and the Appendix A-H is below. These supplemental documents/appendix are important to read through, and do contain many maps and pictures.
HERE IS THE MAILING ADDRESS:
Comments may be e-mailed to [email protected] or mailed to BLM, 2300 River Frontage Road, Silt, CO 81652, Attn: Sutey Ranch Management Plan. Comments will be most helpful if received by Nov. 5, 2018. Please send your comments to the addresses listed above and cc a copy of your letter to the Horse Council at [email protected]
HERE IS THE ENTIRE LINK:
https://eplanning.blm.gov/…/eplanning/planAndProjectSite.do…
ANOTHER LINK FOR MORE BLM INFORMATION: More information about the parcels and the planning process is available at https://go.usa.gov/xnvM5.
WHEN IS THE BLM MEETING ??? The BLM will be hosting a public open house on October 25th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Carbondale at the 3rd Street Center, 520 3rd Street, to help answer questions and take written public comments. Really important that as many people as possible attend.
It is so exciting to see these groundswells of effort for equestrian trails! A peaceful ride on a horse and a family hike is worth fighting for, don’t you agree?
Here are the 3 alternatives suggested by the documents. The RFVHC will be responding following the meeting, and we welcome any contributions and involvement.
Alternative 1 WILDLIFE AND HUNTING EMPHASIS
Sutey Ranch. Alternative 1 proposes to manage the Sutey Ranch predominantly for the benefit of wildlife and wildlife-related activities such as hunting and wildlife viewing. Seasonal equestrian use (and trailer parking facilities) and mountain biking access to the north side of the Red Hill SRMA would be provided. The irrigated lands would be managed to provide forage for wildlife and temporary, limited livestock grazing. The surrounding ranchlands would be improved through vegetation treatments. The ranch would be closed to mechanized, foot, and horse use in the winter. The BLM would add the Sutey Ranch to stipulation CRVFO-NSO-7 - Priority Wildlife Habitat and prohibit surface occupancy and surface- disturbing activities to protect vegetation cover and forage for wildlife. The BLM would combine the Sutey Ranch with the adjacent Sutey Allotment and manage the Allotment as a reserve allotment that allows limited livestock grazing through a temporary non-renewable permit.
Alternative 2 EQUESTRIAN ACCESS EMPHASIS
Sutey Ranch. Alternative 2 proposes to manage the Sutey Ranch with an emphasis on equestrian activities. The Sutey Ranch would be added as a separate recreation management zone (RMZ) to the Red Hill SRMA. No routes would be designated for mountain biking. To benefit wildlife, visitor use would avoid the irrigated fields and habitat treatments would be implemented. Foot and horse travel would be allowed year-round. *** THIS ALTERNATIVE SEEMS TO BE OFFERED TO THE EQUESTRIANS & DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY PROTECTION FOR THE WILDLIFE WITH WINTER CLOSURES. WE BELIEVE THE #2/B EQUESTRIAN EMPHASIS ALTERNATIVE MAY BE ADJUSTED TO FURTHER PROTECT THE WILDLIFE. THE BLM SAYS IN THE EA THAT THE 3 ALTERNATIVES COULD BE ADJUSTED. The Sutey Ranch would not be available for grazing. The adjacent Sutey Allotment would not be available for grazing due to lack of access through the Sutey Ranch.
Alternative 3 MOUNTAIN BIKING AND HIKING EMPHASIS
Sutey Ranch. Alternative 3 proposes to manage the Sutey Ranch as part of the Red Hill SRMA and managed under the Red Hill SRMA Management Framework outlined in Appendix E. To benefit wildlife, recreation use would be seasonally restricted from December 1 to April 15, visitor use would avoid the irrigated fields and habitat treatments would be implemented. Foot and horse travel would be allowed year-round. Under this alternative, the Sutey Ranch would be managed as part of the Sutey grazing allotment and the irrigated fields would be managed primarily for the benefit of livestock.
The public comment period for the Preliminary Draft Sutey Ranch Land Use Plan Amendment is open and will end on November 5, 2018.
We are asking all interested groups, hikers, outdoor lovers, clubs, animal lovers and individuals to participate in the process. Posted here on October 6, 2018 the link to the BLM EA/RMPA and the Appendix A-H is below. These supplemental documents/appendix are important to read through, and do contain many maps and pictures.
HERE IS THE MAILING ADDRESS:
Comments may be e-mailed to [email protected] or mailed to BLM, 2300 River Frontage Road, Silt, CO 81652, Attn: Sutey Ranch Management Plan. Comments will be most helpful if received by Nov. 5, 2018. Please send your comments to the addresses listed above and cc a copy of your letter to the Horse Council at [email protected]
HERE IS THE ENTIRE LINK:
https://eplanning.blm.gov/…/eplanning/planAndProjectSite.do…
ANOTHER LINK FOR MORE BLM INFORMATION: More information about the parcels and the planning process is available at https://go.usa.gov/xnvM5.
WHEN IS THE BLM MEETING ??? The BLM will be hosting a public open house on October 25th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Carbondale at the 3rd Street Center, 520 3rd Street, to help answer questions and take written public comments. Really important that as many people as possible attend.
It is so exciting to see these groundswells of effort for equestrian trails! A peaceful ride on a horse and a family hike is worth fighting for, don’t you agree?
Here are the 3 alternatives suggested by the documents. The RFVHC will be responding following the meeting, and we welcome any contributions and involvement.
Alternative 1 WILDLIFE AND HUNTING EMPHASIS
Sutey Ranch. Alternative 1 proposes to manage the Sutey Ranch predominantly for the benefit of wildlife and wildlife-related activities such as hunting and wildlife viewing. Seasonal equestrian use (and trailer parking facilities) and mountain biking access to the north side of the Red Hill SRMA would be provided. The irrigated lands would be managed to provide forage for wildlife and temporary, limited livestock grazing. The surrounding ranchlands would be improved through vegetation treatments. The ranch would be closed to mechanized, foot, and horse use in the winter. The BLM would add the Sutey Ranch to stipulation CRVFO-NSO-7 - Priority Wildlife Habitat and prohibit surface occupancy and surface- disturbing activities to protect vegetation cover and forage for wildlife. The BLM would combine the Sutey Ranch with the adjacent Sutey Allotment and manage the Allotment as a reserve allotment that allows limited livestock grazing through a temporary non-renewable permit.
Alternative 2 EQUESTRIAN ACCESS EMPHASIS
Sutey Ranch. Alternative 2 proposes to manage the Sutey Ranch with an emphasis on equestrian activities. The Sutey Ranch would be added as a separate recreation management zone (RMZ) to the Red Hill SRMA. No routes would be designated for mountain biking. To benefit wildlife, visitor use would avoid the irrigated fields and habitat treatments would be implemented. Foot and horse travel would be allowed year-round. *** THIS ALTERNATIVE SEEMS TO BE OFFERED TO THE EQUESTRIANS & DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY PROTECTION FOR THE WILDLIFE WITH WINTER CLOSURES. WE BELIEVE THE #2/B EQUESTRIAN EMPHASIS ALTERNATIVE MAY BE ADJUSTED TO FURTHER PROTECT THE WILDLIFE. THE BLM SAYS IN THE EA THAT THE 3 ALTERNATIVES COULD BE ADJUSTED. The Sutey Ranch would not be available for grazing. The adjacent Sutey Allotment would not be available for grazing due to lack of access through the Sutey Ranch.
Alternative 3 MOUNTAIN BIKING AND HIKING EMPHASIS
Sutey Ranch. Alternative 3 proposes to manage the Sutey Ranch as part of the Red Hill SRMA and managed under the Red Hill SRMA Management Framework outlined in Appendix E. To benefit wildlife, recreation use would be seasonally restricted from December 1 to April 15, visitor use would avoid the irrigated fields and habitat treatments would be implemented. Foot and horse travel would be allowed year-round. Under this alternative, the Sutey Ranch would be managed as part of the Sutey grazing allotment and the irrigated fields would be managed primarily for the benefit of livestock.