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Kremmling BLM seeks public comment on habitat improvement plan

Sky-Hi Staff Report

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is currently accepting public comments on a plan designed to streamline approvals for wildlife habitat improvement projects in the Radium Valley in Eagle and Grand counties.

As the BLM begins developing a programmatic environmental assessment that takes a broad look at possible projects in sagebrush, mountain shrub and pinyon-juniper habitats within the 27,000-acre Radium Valley, it wants to hear any issues or concerns from the public.

Projects like these undertaken by the BLM typically involve creating openings within pinyon-juniper forests to provide an increase in Greater Sage Grouse habitat and forage for wintering deer and elk. The work can be done mechanically, such as mowing or roller-chopping, through prescribed fire or manually using hand tools.



“These methods are essentially mimicking the same type of disturbance a small, natural wildfire might create,” said BLM Kremmling Wildlife Biologist Darren Long. “These treatments have been successful in this area in the past, but we need to do more. Completing this broad analysis across the Radium Valley now will allow us to get more projects completed in this important wildlife area over the next few years.”

The BLM is requesting that all comments be received by Aug. 26, 2016. The proposal and map of the potential project area are available on-line at, http://www.blm.gov/co/kfo . Written comments and questions should be directed to the Kremmling Field Office at 2103 E. Park Ave, CO 80459. Electronic comments may be submitted to KFO Webmail@blm.gov.



Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time.

A press release issued by the BLM states, “While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.”


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