ShareTrails | BLM Amendments to 2008 Moab, Price and Vernal Resource Management Plans Following the Dingell Act

The 2019 Dingell Act, previously known as the Emery County Bill, designated Wilderness and also released several wilderness study areas in one of Utah’s largest counties. In response, the Bureau of Land Management is proposing six amendments to their 2008 resource management plans (RMP) for the following areas (each link will take you to a separate action alert where you can submit a comment):

*Green River Wild, Scenic and Recreational River Segments
*John Wesley Powell National Conservation Area 
*Jurassic National Monument 
*McCoy Flat Mountain Bike Trail System 
*San Rafael Swell Recreation Area, 14 Surrounding Wilderness Areas, and Adjacent Released Wilderness Study Areas
*Desolation Canyon, Turtle Canyon, and Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness Areas and Adjacent Released Wilderness Study Areas

Green River, San Rafael Recreation Area and Desolation, Turtle and Labyrinth Canyon areas all face a much greater threat to seeing restricted access.

We’ve already extensively covered the Green River Wild, Scenic and Recreational River Segments in a separate post. We’ve already seen hundreds of comments come through, but we need everyone to add their voice to this amendment, which could be used to close some of the most popular trails near Moab. You can learn more about the Green River amendment and submit a comment here.

San Rafael Swell Recreation Area:

Wilderness Areas and Released WSAs: The Dingell Act designated wilderness but also designated cherry-stemmed roads within the wilderness that should not be subject to wilderness management policies. The amendment states, “As a part of the San Rafael Swell TMP effort, the BLM and its cooperators review all known routes in the travel management area (including within the Recreation Area and any Wilderness Area Cherry-Stem or Boundary Roads) and the TMP will result in each route receiving an OHV open, limited, or closed designation, which specify if, when, and how OHVs may use each route. TMPs are activity level plans and route designations are site specific decisions.” Any travel management plan route designations that close cherry-stemmed roads would be in direct contradiction to the Dingell Act.

We are also concerned that any route outside of the designated wilderness can be closed or restricted through this Travel Management Process.

>>Comment on the San Rafael Swell Recreation Amendment here<<

Desolation, Turtle, Labyrinth Canyons and Released Wilderness Study Areas

The released Wilderness Study Areas (WSA’s) cannot be subjected to wilderness management practices anymore now that they were released through the Dingell Act. The amendment itself states, “…the released WSAs are no longer subject to wilderness study areas”. We need to ensure the BLM hears our voice in requiring them to follow through with the Dingell Act and update OHV use areas, recreational use and no longer manage these lands to preserve wilderness characteristics.

Within the designated Wilderness areas the BLM has proposed potential restrictions for the cherry-stemmed roads and boundary roads. The amendment proposes to “…update wilderness characteristics decisions; update if and where dispersed recreation or other recreational activities may be allowed; update the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum; update OHV area designations; and update if and where rights of way may be allowed and what type of right of way may be allowed.”

This again, is not within their jurisdiction to restrict use on these cherry-stemmed roads. Wilderness characteristics and the need to preserve wilderness qualities on these roads is a priority for the BLM according to their plan. They will try to use wilderness characteristics to close these roads that congress designated as open. Anti-access groups are fighting to close all these roads and restrict as much access as possible.

>>Click Here to Comment on the Desolation, Turtle, Labyrinth Canyons and Released Wilderness Study Areas Amendment<<

We are not as concerned with the National Conservation Area, Jurassic National Monument and the McCoy Flat Mountain Bike Trail System as those amendments seem to be appropriate and reasonable. We still need people to submit a comment on each amendment though to signal strong support for recreation access. Our action tool makes it quick and simple to make your voice heard.

John Wesley Powell National Conservation Area

Jurassic National Monument

McCoy Flat Mountain Bike Trail System