Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area Advisory Council to Meet
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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area Advisory Council will meet on August 31 from 3-6 p.m. in Grand Junction to discuss council recommendations and implementation planning for the proposed Resource Management Plan.
The council provides guidance to the Bureau of Land Management about managing the 210,000 acre Dominguez-Escalante NCA. Its meetings are open to the public and include public comment opportunities. The meeting will be held downstairs at the Mesa County Courthouse Annex at 544 Rood Avenue, Grand Junction.
The BLM released the proposed plan for managing the NCA on July 1. The plan provides long-term management goals for the area’s cultural and historic sites along with ecological, geological and paleontological resources. Located in Delta, Montrose and Mesa counties south of Grand Junction, the NCA provides hiking, horseback riding and wilderness recreation opportunities. Approximately 137,000 recreational visitors contribute $2.1 million in labor income to the surrounding communities annually.
The BLM is currently preparing the Approved Resource Management Plan and Record of Decision. The Proposed RMP documents can be found online at http://1.usa.gov/1qKkMVi.
Dominguez-Escalante NCA was designated by the 2009 Omnibus Public Lands Management Act and is part of the BLM’s National Conservation Lands. The area is known for its breathtaking beauty, characterized by red-rock canyons and sandstone bluffs. Within the boundary of the NCA, the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness provides outstanding hiking and exploring opportunities. It includes scenic canyons and mesas carved in sandstone, and features two cascading streams, waterfalls, spectacular geologic features, ecological diversity, and archaeological and paleontological sites. The wilderness is home to desert bighorn sheep as well as rock art and historic remnants of the area’s ranching roots.
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.