[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 186 (Thursday, September 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50401-50402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25474]
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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[CO-070-1230-00]
Castle Peak Area Travel Management Designations and Use
Restrictions
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of change in off highway vehicle use designations, and
area closure and use restrictions.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given on changes in the off highway vehicle
use designations and travel related rules of conduct on approximately
119,631 acres of public land administered by the Grand Junction
District, Glenwood Springs Resource Area of the Bureau of Land
Management. This order closes public lands in the Bull Gulch and Castle
Peak Wilderness Study Areas to use and operation of all motorized and
mechanized vehicles, limits use of said vehicles to designated routes
on all other public lands in the Castle Peak planning area, and
prohibits use of motorized vehicles in specified areas during the fall
and winter seasons. The motorized and mechanized travel designations
and use restrictions are established pursuant 43 CFR 8341.2(a), and 43
CFR 8464.1. These designations and use restrictions modify current
designations established in the Glenwood Springs Resource Area Resource
Management Plan, record of decision signed in January 1984, and
supersede general rules of conduct for recreational use of public lands
in the affected area.
The affected public lands are bounded by the Colorado River, Eagle
River and Highway 131 and are located in Townships 2, 3, 4, and 5
South, Ranges 83, 84, 85 and 86 West of the 6th Principal Meridian,
Eagle County, Colorado.
EFFECTIVE DATES: The designations will be effective as of the date of
approval of the Castle Peak Travel Management Plan. The use
restrictions shall be effective as of September 15, 1997 until
rescinded or modified by the Authorized Officer.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public lands in the Castle Peak area contain
important and fragile resource values and provide a variety of outdoor
recreational opportunities. Changes in the current travel designations
are needed to protect erosive soils, wintering wildlife habitat,
sensitive water quality management areas, cultural resources, important
scenic values, semi-primitive non-motorized settings, and wilderness
values. Growing recreational use in the area is expected to continue,
and travel management is needed to prevent conflicts between users and
unacceptable impacts on resource values, while continuing to provide a
variety of recreational opportunities.
These travel designations and use restrictions are the result of
the Castle Peak Travel Management Plan. Public comments were received
throughout the planning process beginning in April 1996, which included
scoping of the issues and potential solutions, review of alternatives
and the plan proposed in September 1996, and review of the final plan
with record of decision approved
[[Page 50402]]
by the Colorado State Director on August 8, 1997. Comments were
received from users, adjacent landowners, interest groups, the Colorado
Division of Wildlife and other State and local agencies.
The areas, roads and trails affected by this order will be posted
with appropriate regulatory signs. Information including maps of the
restricted areas and travel management designations is available in the
Resource Area Office and District Office at the addresses shown below.
The Castle Peak Area described herein will be subject to the
following designations, closures and use restrictions:
A. Closed Designation
Use and operation of all motorized and mechanized vehicles
including mountain bikes and snowmobiles operating over snow shall be
prohibited year round within the following areas:
(1) Bull Gulch Wilderness Study Area--15,201 acres located 8 miles
north of the Town of Gypsum in all or portion of T2S R85W Secs. 21, 28,
32, 33; T3S R85W Secs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17,
18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32; T3S R86W Secs. 24; T4S R85W
Secs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10.
(2) Castle Peak Wilderness Study Area--12,237 acres located 9 miles
north of the Town of Eagle in all or portion of T3S R84W Secs. 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,
33, 34 and 35.
B. Limited Designation
All travel by motorized and mechanized vehicles, except snowmobiles
operating over snow, is limited to designated routes year-round on all
public lands not otherwise closed. Motorized and mechanized travel off
the designated routes is prohibited.
C. Fall Limitation
Between October 1 and April 30 annually, use and operation of all
motorized vehicles, including snowmobiles operating over snow, is
prohibited on the following routes. This fall limitation does not
restrict non-motorized travel on these routes.
1. Stagecoach Trail (Route #8535) and related spurs: 5.1 miles of
route located 2 miles southwest of McCoy in T2S, R84W Secs. 10, 11, 12,
13 and 24.
2. Domantle Road (Route #8513) and related spurs: 3 miles of route
located 11 miles northeast of the Town of Eagle in T3S R 84 W Secs. 11,
12, and 13.
D. Winter Limitation
Between December 1 and April 30 annually, all motorized vehicle
use, including snowmobiles operating over snow, is prohibited on and
off the roads and trails on public lands in the following areas and on
all routes therein. This winter limitation does not restrict non-
motorized travel, or any travel on county roads.
(1) Cottonwood Creek: 11,768 acres west of Eby Creek, northwest of
the Town of Eagle in all or portion of T4S R84W Secs. 6, 7, 8, 17, 18,
19, 20, 29, 30, 31, and 32; T4S R85W Secs. 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,
15, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, and 36.
(2) Red Canyon: 5,451 acres east of Eby Creek and west of Milk
Creek, northeast of the Town of Eagle in all or portion of T4S R83W
Secs. 5, 7, 8 and 18; T4S R84W Secs. 8, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23,
24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, and 33.
(3) Bocco Mountain: 3,117 acres east of Milk Creek, north of the
Eagle River to Alkali Creek and west of Highway 131, northeast of
Wolcott in all or portion of T3S R83W Secs. 27, 28, 32, 33 and 34; T4S
R83W Secs. 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10.
(4) Domantle-Boore Flats: 10,134 acres north of Alkali Creek, south
of Pisgah Mountain and east of the Winter Ridge Road, southeast of
Burns in all or portion of T2S R83W Secs. 30, 31, 32; T2S R84W Secs.
24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35 and 36; T3S R83W Secs. 6, 7,
and 18; T3S R84W Secs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14.
(5) Pisgah Mountain-Windy Point Area: 15,849 acres south of the
Colorado River, west of Highway 131 to Big Alkali Creek, south of McCoy
in all or portion of T2S R83W 7, 8, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26,
27, 28, 29, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36; T2S R84W Secs 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11,
12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, and 28.
(6) Black Mountain: 7,536 acres south of the Colorado River, west
of the Winter Ridge Road to the Bull Gulch area near Burns in all or
portion of T2S R84W Secs. 17, 18, 19, 30, 31; T2S R85W Secs. 13, 14,
22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35, and 36.
E. Motorized Routes
Open to use and operation of all motorized vehicles including
motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, four wheel drive vehicles and
snowmobiles, subject to the conditions of use in 43 CFR 8341. Also open
to non-motorized travel including mountain bikes, foot and horseback or
pack animal unless otherwise restricted.
F. Single Track Motorized Routes
Use and operation of motorized vehicles over 40'' in width is
prohibited. Open to use of motorcycles and snowmobiles operating over
snow and mountain bikes unless otherwise closed.
G. Non Motorized Routes
Use and operation of all motorized vehicles is prohibited. Open to
all non-motorized travel year round including mountain bikes, unless
otherwise closed.
Persons who are exempt from these restrictions include any Federal,
State, or local officers engaged in fire, emergency and law enforcement
activities; BLM employees engaged in official duties, and other persons
specifically authorized to conduct or engage in the otherwise
prohibited use or activity. These designations and use restrictions do
not apply to use of county roads or private lands.
The environmental impacts of these designations and use
restrictions are described in the Castle Peak Travel Management Plan
Environmental Assessment No. CO-078-07-49.
Penalties
Violations of this closure and restriction order are punishable by
fines not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael S. Mottice, Area Manager,
Glenwood Springs Resource Area, 50629 Highway 6/24, P.O. Box 1009,
Glenwood Springs, CO 81602; (970) 947-2800. Mark Morse, District
Manager, Grand Junction District, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, Colorado
81506; (970) 244-3000.
Mark Morse,
Grand Junction District Manager.
[FR Doc. 97-25474 Filed 9-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P
