The Bureau of Land Management has released preliminary alternatives for the Dolores Travel Management area which lies just east of Moab, Utah. This plan covers 321 miles of routes. The area includes a portion of Kokopelli's Trail, several designated BLM campgrounds, and an estimated 321 miles of existing routes used by hunters, OHV riders, mountain bikers, and overlanders.
BLM has now released the Draft Route Reports — the route-by-route evaluation that will form the basis of the Draft Environmental Assessment that is expected later this year.
These reports show how each route would be designated under four alternatives. Alternative A is current route status, Alternative B closes the most, Alternative C also closes more than Alternative A but less than B and Alternative D has the most routes open and opens routes the BLM previously designated as closed. BRC supports a variation of Alternative D and will be evaluating even the closed mileage in Alternative D. The BLM has been monitoring where damage has taken place.
This planning process is occurring as a result from a 2017 settlement with anti-access organizations, requiring the BLM to evaluate all the routes again and do an additional travel management planning.
Alternative A (No Action) — 303 miles open, 36 miles closed. Continues current management. The 36 closed miles are already designated closed under existing plans.
Alternative B (Conservation) — 197 miles open, 139 miles closed, 4 miles limited. Closes 41% of the network, targeting routes in Habitat Management Areas, LWC units, Natural Areas, and riparian corridors. Would eliminate 79% of hunting access routes and 88% of scenic overlook routes.
Alternative C (Balanced) — 279 miles open, 54 miles closed, 7 miles limited. Keeps 82% of routes open. A significant improvement over Alternative B but still closes routes with RS 2477 legal status and documented public use.
Alternative D (Access) — 334 miles open, 4 miles closed, 2 miles limited. Keeps 98% of the network open. The 4 miles it closes are routes already naturally reclaiming or with documented site-specific conflicts. Consistent with RS 2477 rights-of-way and current administration policy under EO 14408. BRC supports Alternative D.
BRC will continue evaluating the routes and for this reason we support a variation of Alternative D and will be assessing the mileage closed even in Alternative D.
