BLM Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area Designation
Organization
BLM Office:
Media Contact:
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) celebrates the ten-year anniversary of the designation of the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (NCA), honoring the NCA’s positive impact on the local community and visitors.
The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 designated the Dominguez-Escalante NCA. The NCA includes about 210,000 acres of BLM-managed lands, including about 66,200 acres set aside as the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness. The NCA and wilderness span across Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties. Local, regional, and national interests for the outstanding geologic, historic, and cultural resources in the area supported the designation. The BLM estimates that recreation within the NCA will provide $3.4 million in annual labor income to the local economy and a net benefit of almost $6 million to recreation users.
“The designation of the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area is a great example of grass roots collaboration and local stewardship,” said BLM Colorado State Director Jamie Connell. “The BLM is honored to be entrusted with this special place and takes seriously our responsibility to continue the vision the communities of Western Colorado had for its stewardship and multiple use.”
The Dominguez-Escalante NCA is part of the BLM’s National Conservation Lands and contain some of the West’s most spectacular landscapes. In Colorado, the BLM manages three NCAs and two National Monuments encompassing more than 570,000 acres. National Conservation Areas are managed through local support and reflect the best aspects of the BLM’s multiple use mission.
“The Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area encompasses many unique and diverse resources and attributes,” said Katie Steele, Southwest Resource Advisory Council member. “This place was too precious not to receive the time and energy spent by so many to put together a comprehensive plan for its future use and protection.”
Nestled in the canyon country of the Uncompaghre Plateau, the Dominguez-Escalante NCA is a special place for visitors, featuring scenic red-rock canyons and mesas carved in sandstone, streams, waterfalls, archaeological and paleontological sites, views of the desert landscape, desert bighorn sheep, and more. Recreation is an important part of the NCA, including hunting, boating, hiking, horseback riding, camping, biking and ATV riding. Livestock grazing is also a permitted use in the NCA. The Dominguez Canyon Wilderness has spectacular resources including Native American rock art, waterfalls in Big Dominguez Canyon and amazing geology.
-###-
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.