< All Press Releases

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public nominations for its Northwest, Southwest, and Rocky Mountain Resource Advisory Councils for existing and upcoming member vacancies in January 2024. 

The Colorado Resource Advisory Councils each consist of 15 citizens with diverse interests in public land management, including conservationists, ranchers, outdoor recreationists, State and local government officials, Tribal representatives, and energy industry representatives. The councils provide advice to the BLM on public land issues.

“The Resource Advisory Councils are the cornerstones of our engagement with the communities where we manage public lands” said BLM Colorado State Director Doug Vilsack. “Our Bureau’s ability to administer and conserve these lands for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations of Americans relies heavily on the advice we are given from the Resource Advisory Councils.”

The Bureau, which manages more land than any other Federal agency, has Resource Advisory Councils located across the West. The diverse membership of each council is aimed at achieving a balanced outlook that the BLM needs to achieve its multiple-use mission.

Resource Advisory Councils are critical in assisting the BLM in continuing to be a good neighbor in communities served by the Bureau, providing advice and recommendations on issues including land use planning, fire management, off-highway vehicle use, recreation, oil and gas exploration, noxious weed management, grazing issues, and wild horse and burro herd management issues.

The descriptions for positions are as follows:

• Category One – Persons that hold Federal grazing permits or leases within the area for which the council is organized; representatives of energy and mineral development; the commercial timber industry, and interests associated with transportation or rights-of-way, off-highway vehicle use, or commercial recreation.
• Category Two – Representatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations, archaeological and historical organizations, dispersed recreation activities, and nationally or regionally recognized wild horse and burro groups.
• Category Three – Persons who hold State, county, or local elected office; are employed by a State agency responsible for the management of natural resources, land, or water; representatives of Indian Tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the Resource Advisory Council is organized; are employed as academicians in natural resource management or the natural sciences; and representatives of the public-at-large.

Nominations must be submitted by (30 days after the notice publishes in the Federal Register). The nomination application is available online. For more information about serving on the Northwest Colorado RAC, please contact Elijah Waters, (970) 570-0042 or ewaters@blm.gov. For the Southwest Colorado RAC, contact D. Maggie Magee at (970) 240-5323 or dmagee@blm.gov. For the Rocky Mountain Colorado RAC, contact Levi Spellman at (719) 269-8553 or lspellman@blm.gov

More information about Resource Advisory Councils is available at https://www.blm.gov/get-involved/resource-advisory-council/near-you/colorado. 

Individuals may nominate themselves or others to serve on an advisory council. Nominees will be judged based on their training, education, and knowledge of the council’s geographical area. Nominees should also demonstrate a commitment to consensus building and collaborative decision-making. All nominations must be accompanied by letters of reference from any represented interests or organizations; a completed background information nomination form; and any other information that speaks to the nominee’s qualifications.

– BLM –