BLM ColoradoBLM ColoradoCanyons of the Ancients Canyons of the Ancients

National MonumentNational Monument

October 2007October 2007

Draft Resource Management Plan – Draft Resource Management Plan – Draft Environmental Impact StatementDraft Environmental Impact Statement

Containing the highest known density of archaeological Containing the highest known density of archaeological sites in the Nation…natural resources and spectacular sites in the Nation…natural resources and spectacular landforms…rugged and dissected geology…and wildlife landforms…rugged and dissected geology…and wildlife species…I proclaim for the purpose of protecting the species…I proclaim for the purpose of protecting the objects identified above…Canyons of the Ancients objects identified above…Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.National Monument.

The ProclamationThe Proclamation2

Planning AreaPlanning Area 165,000 acres public land surface165,000 acres public land surface 18,000 acres private land surface18,000 acres private land surface 80% currently leased for fluid 80% currently leased for fluid

minerals developmentminerals development Montezuma and Dolores CountiesMontezuma and Dolores Counties

Cultural ResourcesCultural Resources Grazing AdministrationGrazing Administration Fluid MineralsFluid Minerals RecreationRecreation TransportationTransportation

Major Planning IssuesMajor Planning Issues

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Consultation and CoordinationConsultation and Coordination

FEDERAL USDOI National Park Service, Hovenweep National Monument

USDOI Fish and Wildlife Service(Cooperating Agency)

USDOI BLM Utah, Monticello Field OfficeUSDA Forest Service, San Juan National Forest

Fluid minerals development and viewsheds

Herptological species

No concerns expressedNo concerns expressed

STATE Colorado Historical Society (Cooperating Agency), Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation

Colorado Division of Wildlife

Cultural resource management, stabilization, vandalism, tribal interests

Hunting, law enforcement, reintroduction of bighorn sheep

LOCAL Montezuma Board of County Commissioners Dolores Board of County Commissioners

Canyons of the Ancients Advisory Committee

Constraints to grazing and fluid mineral development

Cultural resources, grazing, fluid minerals, recreation, transportation, private land

TRIBAL CONSULTATION

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; The Uintah-Ouray Ute Tribe; The Southern Ute Tribe; The Navajo Nation; The Hopi Tribe; and The Pueblos of Acoma, Cochiti, Isleta, Jemez, Laguna, Nambe, Picuris, Pojoaque, Sandia, San Felipe, San Ildefonso, San Juan, Santa Ana, Santa Clara, Santo Domingo, Taos, Tesuque, Zia, and Zuni

Multiple use impacts to ancestral sites and landscapes; research; interpretation; access for traditional use

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ALTERNATIVESALTERNATIVES

Alternative INo Action

Continuation of current management as specified in the San Juan/San Miguel RMP and ROD (1985) and Amendments and the Anasazi ACEC Management Plan (1986), USDOI and BLM Interim Management, and the Mail Trail Settlement Agreement.

Emphasizes landscape-scale cultural resource values, i.e. communities, sites and isolated finds communities, sites and isolated finds and including tribal tribal valuesvalues, cultural resource protection, and natural resource protection and enhancement.

Alternative II

Emphasizes cultural resource site protection, i.e. communities and sitescommunities and sites, and natural resource values, while providingproviding for resource use and development.

Alternative III

Emphasizes cultural resource site protection, i.e. communities and sitescommunities and sites, and natural resource values, while encouragingencouraging resource use and development.

Alternative IV

Emphasizes cultural resource values, i.e. communities, sites communities, sites and including tribal values tribal values, cultural resource and natural resource protection and enhancement, while providing providing for resource use and development.

Alternative VPreferred Alternative

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Cultural Cultural Resources:Resources: Alternatives Alternatives ComparisonComparison

Cultural Resources:Cultural Resources: Alternatives ComparisonAlternatives Comparison

Alternative I (No Action) Alternative V (Preferred)

Allocate sites for uses:- Scientific/Research- Conservation- Traditional- Public- Experimental- Discharged

Implement Outdoor Museum concept

Allocate all sites for- Scientific/Research- Conservation- Traditional- ExperimentalAllocate 13-25 sites for- PublicAllocate 0 sites for- Discharged

Stabilize or repair 240 sites Stabilize after human-caused impacts only;otherwise document standing walls and allow to deteriorate

Conduct Class III inventory of 15 cultural resource emphasis areas

Conduct Class III inventory of areas receiving high public use

BLM staff develops research goals BLM staff develops research goals w/ professional peer review

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Grazing:Grazing: Alternatives ComparisonAlternatives ComparisonAlternative I

(No Action)

Alternative V

(Preferred)

Permit 8,492 AUMs

Permit 6,437 AUMs

Administer 28 allotments

Administer 23 allotments

Establish no common reserves

Establish common reserve allotments

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Fluid Minerals:Fluid Minerals: Alternatives ComparisonAlternatives Comparison

Alternative I

(No Action)

Alternative V

(Preferred)

Defer leasing until completion of the RMP/EIS

143,500 acres (80%) currently leased for fluid minerals development; 21,500 acres (20%) not leased

Lease up to 880 new acres for drainage only

No Surface Occupancy

Average 2 to 4 new well locations/year on existing leases; 121 new locations in 20 years

Estimate 2 new well locations in 20 years on currently unleased land

Meet Section 106 requirements

Protect cultural resource communities and sites

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Recreation:Recreation: Alternatives Alternatives ComparisonComparison

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Recreation:Recreation: Alternatives ComparisonAlternatives ComparisonAlternative I

(No Action)

Alternative V

(Preferred)

Develop no promotion strategy; develop facilities as needed; maintain facilities at Lowry, Painted Hand, and Sand Canyon Pueblo

Promote an undeveloped management strategy for Sand Canyon-Rock Creek, Mockingbird, Goodman and Squaw/Cross Canyon (4) SRMAs; promote a destination management strategy for AHC and Pueblo Sites (2) SRMAs

Continue dispersed recreational camping

Prohibit recreational shooting and geocaching

Allow climbing only in designated areas

Prohibit camping and campfires in Pueblo Sites, Sand Canyon-Rock Creek and AHC SRMAs; allow camping and campfires in all other SRMAs

Allow no new commercial permits

Allow up to 10 recreation special use permits

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Transportation:Transportation: Alternatives ComparisonAlternatives Comparison12

Transportation:Transportation: Alternatives ComparisonAlternatives Comparison

Alternative I (No Action) Alternative V (Preferred)

Total roads (public access + Administrative) = 149 miles

Total roads (public access + Administrative) = 169 miles

OHV travel classified as Closed on 25,976 acres and Limited on 138,024 acres; travel on designated roads only

OHV travel classified as Closed on 38,598 acres and Limited on 126,737 acres; travel on designated roads only

Sand Canyon Trail authorized for primitive non-motorized use (foot, bicycle, or horse) 1987 Cultural Resource Mgmt Plan

Proclamation prohibits all motorized and mechanized use off road, except for emergency or authorized administrative purposes.

Sand Canyon and East Rock “Roads” authorized for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding

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DRMP/DEIS defines a “road” as an open way for the passage of vehicles, persons, or animals on land.“Off-road” is defined as cross-country travel between designated roads. All off-road travel by motorized and/or mechanized vehicles is prohibited on the Monument.

Canyons of the Ancients Canyons of the Ancients Key DatesKey Dates

Alternative Formulation

Analysis of Management Situation2005

Notice of Availability Draft Environmental Impact Statement

September 2007

Public Scoping PeriodApril 2002 to November 2003

Preparation of Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Federal Register Notice of IntentApril 2002

Notice of Availability FinalEnvironmental Impact Statement

Spring 2008

Resource Management PlanImplementation

Preparation of Final EnvironmentalImpact Statement

Record of DecisionResource Management Plan

September 2008

90-Day Public Comment PeriodSeptember 2007 to January 2008

Protest Period/Governor’s Consistency Review

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A Planned Romance…. We are moving into an era of managed remoteness, of planned romance. I think that is probably how it has to be if we are to preserve the qualities of the area at all in an increasingly mobile and exploitive society. The challenge is to have an effective management that does not itself overwhelm the values it is designed to protect. Bill Lipe 1980

The Outdoor MuseumThe Outdoor Museum15