The Bureau of Land Management’s Southwest District Resource Advisory Council will hold a virtual meeting June 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The meeting is hosted by the Tres Rios Field Office and is open to the public. Participants can join via the Zoom platform. To request access, register at https://blm.zoomgov.com.
The Southwest RAC serves as a forum for community conversation on BLM land management and issues. The committee makes recommendations on policies and plans and introduces ideas to BLM officials.
“By delving into complex topics and proposing solutions to a variety of land and resource management issues, Resource Advisory Council members provide us with valuable new perspective,” said District Manager Elizabeth Dawson in a news release.
Planned agenda items include the election of a chairperson, an overview of field office updates and a discussion regarding dispersed camping challenges and camping fees.
A public comment period is scheduled at 11:30 a.m.
People who want to make a statement during the public comment period are encouraged to submit a written copy of their statement at the meeting for the administrative record. The Resource Advisory Council also will attend a field trip on June 1. The meeting agenda will be online.
All 15-member Resource Advisory Councils in Colorado are forums for providing advice and recommendations to the BLM on various resource and land management issues. The Southwest Resource Advisory Council advises the BLM Colorado Southwest District including the Gunnison, Uncompahgre and Tres Rios field offices. Updates will be given from each field office.
Current RAC members are Kathy Welt, energy and minerals; Mark Roeber, grazing; Grady Ham, outdoor recreation; Jim Haugsness, dispersed recreation; Tif Rodriguez, wild horses and burros; Ben Katz, environmental organizations; Roger Cesario, dispersed recreation; Jon Holst, environmental organizations; Matt Thorpe, Colorado Parks and Wildlife; Stan Whinnery, elected official; Steve Garchar, Dolores County commissioner; and Staff Jamison, public at large. There are three vacant seats on the board.
For more information or to RSVP, please contact Shawn Reinhardt at 970-240-5339 or sreinhardt@blm.gov.
At the March 3 Southwest RAC meeting, there was no vote.
Field managers presented updates, which were documented in the meeting minutes.
Tres Rios Office Field Manager Connie Clementson said management challenges are drought and an increase in the number of people who live on BLM land, which is creating impacts on wildlife.
She said advocacy groups have confronted the field office with a strong interest in stopping grazing on public lands. For example, environmental groups have challenged the renewal of grazing allotments on Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.
Gunnison Field Office Manager Jon Kaminsky said public recreation has increased in his district since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
He added that a housing shortage has increased the number of people living on public lands, which has created issues of wildlife displacement.
At the Uncompahgre Office, Field Manager Suzanne Copping said staff have been working on water distribution to help ease drought conditions for grazing allotments. The office’s limited staff has been strapped to keep in contact with grazing permit holders, collect data and monitor public recreational use.
The Gunnison Field office has been focusing on North Fork Valley drought conditions, Gunnison sage grouse habitat and bighorn sheep, which directly affect grazing allotments.
Copping also noted that private-land transfers make it difficult for current permittees with access to allotments and water for grazing.
Brandon Lewis of the Southwest District Fire and Aviation said lack of housing and wages for seasonal staff has become increasingly challenging.
“Without affordable housing, we cannot bring in seasonal staff to cover the increasing fire season, and with low wages, they cannot afford the accommodation in our area,” he stated, according to the minutes.
The team is looking into creative ideas to attract additional seasonal fire staff.
BLM Colorado reported it has received $3 million to $4 million in additional funding to assist with fuels management.
At the March meeting, the RAC expressed interest in a new subcommittee dedicated to grazing issues. Who will be on the committee will be addressed at the June meeting.
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