Turn out to show support!
Please help us demonstrate strong support for conservation, Lands with Wilderness Characteristics, and Tribal interests in Bears Ears National Monument!
Bears Ears National Monument, located north of New Mexico in Southern Utah, is a region of extraordinary natural diversity and cultural significance. In March, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the US Forest Service (USFS) announced the release of the draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Bears Ears National Monument. As part of the public engagement process, the agency is taking public comments and hosting open houses about the plan.
There is an open house on Tuesday, May 7 from 6-8 pm MDT at the Albuquerque Marriott Courtyard (5151 Journal Center Boulevard, Albuquerque, NM, 87109). We encourage you to attend and learn more about the draft plan!
The release of the new management plan is a major milestone toward ensuring that this spectacular landscape is managed to conserve its extraordinary values in collaboration with the Five Tribal Nations that comprise the Bears Ears Commission. Alternative E is identified as the BLM’s preferred alternative, as well as the Tribal Alternative—developed by the agency in consultation with the Commission.
An additional virtual open house is planned for Thursday, May 2 from 6-7:30 pm MDT virtually on Zoom. You must register to attend.
If you would like to provide comment at the Albuquerque or virtual open houses, consider these talking points:
- I support Alternative E’s zoned approach to recreation management because:
- o It protects cultural resources and values important to the Tribes, like archeological sites, plants, and animals, while catering to all visitors seeking to experience the cherished Bears Ears landscape, from those using vehicles and travel trailers, to others wanting a more self-guided “backcountry” experience.
- o It ensures landscape-level protections for wildlife habitat and wilderness values by connecting low-elevation to high elevation areas, and connections to remote and undeveloped areas on surrounding lands managed by other agencies such as the National Park Service.
- o It provides for important economic opportunities in nearby communities such as Monticello, Blanding, Bluff, and Mexican Hat by focusing recreation developments and resources on public lands closest to those communities.
- • I support Alternative E’s closure of the Arch Canyon area to motorized use. The Proclamations identify numerous protected objects and values found throughout Arch Canyon, including its perennial stream and extensive riparian area, essential for native fish, amphibian, and bird species and their habitats, native vegetation, including threatened Navajo sedge, and threatened Mexican Spotted Owl.
- o The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) states that Arch Canyon “is one of a small handful of canyons in the area with a semi-perennial water source. The availability of year-round water makes Arch Canyon important for wildlife, specifically Mexican Spotted Owl and amphibious species.”
- o The DEIS admits that allowing off-road vehicle use in Arch Canyon “would continue to impact water resources and water quality conditions…” and “[c]losing areas to OHV use, including the Arch Canyon Road, would eliminate impacts from OHVs.”
- I support Alternative E’s protection of lands with wilderness characteristics (LWC). The BLM has identified 419,128 acres of lands within the Monument that are not currently protected as wilderness or wilderness study areas, but that qualify for such designations – meaning they have naturalness and solitude, and provide for primitive and unconfined recreation. Alternative E will manage all of these lands to protect those wilderness characteristics. Alternative B and C only protect 97,403 acres.
