Mesa County becomes involved in development of Dolores River Travel Management Plan
Mesa County is now classified as a Cooperating Agency in the Dolores River Travel Management Plan (TMP) following the approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Commissioners’ July 9 administrative public hearing. The MOU between Mesa County and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Moab Field Office will allow Mesa County to participate in the development process for the TMP.
The Dolores TMP includes 126,829 acres of BLM-managed land and 280 miles of inventoried travel routes in eastern Utah along the Colorado-Utah border. It would designate a comprehensive travel network of motorized routes and trails by evaluating each route's purpose and need. Any route closures could limit access to popular outdoor activities in Mesa County, such as four-wheeling, hunting, mountain biking, hiking, and camping. Mesa County’s participation will ensure local concerns are represented in the development of the plan.
This MOU will accomplish the following:
- Designate the County as a Cooperating Agency in the Dolores River TMP.
- Provide a framework for cooperation and coordination between the BLM and Mesa County that will ensure the successful completion of the TMP.
- Recognize the BLM as the lead agency responsible for the completion of the TMP.
- Describe the respective responsibilities of each of the Parties in the TMP process.
As a Cooperating Agency, Mesa County’s responsibilities will include:
- Participating in activities such as providing guidance on public involvement strategies, identifying data needs, route evaluation meetings, and providing written comments on working drafts of the TMP and supporting documents.
- Identifying information relative to recreation and its value to the County’s economic situation.
- Assisting the BLM in identifying issues and concerns along with associated data relative to the TMP process.
The full MOU is available on our website.
