On February 10th, the Bureau of Land Management released a draft plan for the Jumbo Mountain Special Recreation Area. This plan aims to create a management framework for managing trails, wildlife, and other resources on Jumbo Mountain outside of Paonia, CO. The plan involves about 1,900 acres of public land near the town of Paonia, CO. The plan would designate approximately 30 miles of travel routes in the Jumbo Mountain Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) as part of the 2020 Uncompahgre Field Office Resource Management Plan. The 60-day public comment period runs from February 10 through April 7, 2023.
Jumbo provides incredible recreation activities for the local communities of Paonia and Hotchkiss, as well as important wildlife habitat for big game species like elk and mule deer. It also has critical habitat for the Colorado Desert-parsley (Lomatium concinnum), which is only found in Delta and Montrose counties! This plan is incredibly important for the area, and will ultimately determine which trails will remain open and closed, if a seasonal wildlife closure will be enacted and for which recreation types, among other value areas.
WSCC will be hosting an information session on April 5th, 2023 at the WSCC office (204 Poplar Ave, Paonia CO) from 6 PM to 7:30 PM. Please join us to learn how to write a substantive comment, a high-level overview of the topics included in the Jumbo Mountain plan, and how to submit comments.
Substantive comments on the Environmental Assessment can be submitted online through the BLM ePlanning project website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2022951/510; or by U.S. mail to: BLM Uncompahgre Field Office, Attn: Caroline Kilbane, 2465 S. Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO 81401. Project information, including how to submit comments, is available on the ePlanning site. The site also provides maps to assist stakeholders in the comment process.
