Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Resource Management Plan Scoping Meetings August 30 and 31, 2010

Planning Area  209,610 acres (including 66,280 acres of Wilderness  Cultural Resources  Land Health  Comprehensive Travel Management  Wilderness Management  Recreation  Wild and Scenic River Suitability  Purposes of the NCA  Others Major Topics the Plan will address 3 Developing a new Resource Management Plan (RMP) What is an RMP?  Long-range plan to ensure that the public lands are managed sustainably (according to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act) and other laws, policies, etc.

Dominguez-Escalante NCA and Dominguez Canyon Wilderness  209,610 acres public land surface  Delta, Mesa and Montrose Counties  Managed cooperatively by the Uncompahgre and Grand Junction Field Offices of the BLM  Unit(s) of the National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) and National Wilderness Preservation System

Dominguez-Escalante and the NLCS The NLCS includes*: Nat’l Monument, Nat’l Conservation Areas, Wilderness Study Areas, National scenic trail or historic trails, Components of the Wild and Scenic Rivers system, Wilderness, or Other areas Congress designates to be included *Public Law

Dominguez-Escalante and the NLCS The NLCS was established in order to: Conserve, protect, and restore nationally significant landscapes that have outstanding cultural, ecological, and scientific values for the benefit of current and future generations* *Public Law

Dominguez-Escalante and the NLCS The NLCS shall be managed: in accordance with any applicable law (including regulations) relating to any component of the system In a manner that protects the values for which the components of the system were designated.* *Public Law

To preserve and protect for present and future generations the unique and important resources and values of the land…. Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of

the water resources of area streams, based on seasonally available flows, that are necessary to support aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial species and communities. PURPOSES of the NCA …..including the geological, cultural, archaeological, paleontological, natural, scientific, recreational, wilderness, wildlife, riparian, historical, educational, and scenic resources of the public land; and

The RMP will provide for long-term management for resources within the NCA, most particularly the resources listed in the Purposes of the NCA, as well as the other public land resources that we manage within the NCA. The RMP will include a Comprehensive Travel Management Plan The Dominguez-Escalante NCA Advisory Council will be formed to provide input to the BLM regarding the RMP. Relationship of the RMP to Purposes of the NCA and the NCA’s legislation

Examples of Decisions Made in RMPs: Fish & Wildlife Priority species and habitats are identified (density, diversity, size, public interest, remnant character, or age) Desired Habitat Conditions may be established Desired population conditions may be established (drawing on Colorado Division of Wildlife expertise); e.g., where there may be a population objective Actions and Restrictions needed to achieve desired habitat and/or population conditions, such as: Priorities for land or vegetation restoration treatments, weed treatments Seasonal travel restrictions

1.Ask the Public for Comments on Issues and Planning Criteria 2.Analyze Current Conditions of Resources, How they’re being managed today, and where we might have opportunities to improve 3.Develop different potential future management scenarios 4.Determine how each scenario might affect the environment 5.Identify the Preferred Alternative 6.Publish a Draft Resource Management Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement; provide a 90 day public comment period 7.Accept and consider public comments 8.Develop and publish a Proposed RMP/Final EIS 9.Offer a 30-day Protest Period and a 60-day Governor’s Consistency Review 10.Prepare Decision; Issue Resource Management Plan Public Scoping Analyze the Management Situation Develop RMP Alternatives Environmental Effects Analysis Draft RMP/EIS (Document) Issued Final RMP/EIS (Document) Issued Protest Period Decision Public Comment PLANNING PROCESS OVERVIEW

Public Scoping building in what we heard during previous community focus groups prior to the NCA’s designation Recreation Focus Groups (Mesa State-September/October) Travel Management Meetings (November) Advisory Council (Future Working Groups) Public Comment on Draft RMP/Draft EIS PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN PLANNING

Involvement with Other Agencies Cooperating Agency Status (Opportunity for other agencies to provide feedback and help) Tribal Consultation US Fish and Wildlife Service (Threatened and Endangered Species) Consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office

RMP Schedule Key Milestones August 2010: Public Scoping December 2010: Compete Analysis of the Management Situation; January 2011: Begin Alternative development Draft RMP: Early 2012 Final RMP: Late 2012

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