Annual Manager’s Report—Fiscal Year 2016

McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area

Colorado

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Table of Contents

McInnis Canyons NCA Profile ........................................................................................................... 2

Planning and NEPA ............................................................................................................................ 5

Year’s Projects and Accomplishments ........................................................................................... 6

Science ............................................................................................................................................... 14

Resources, Objects, Values, and Stressors .................................................................................. 15

Summary of Performance Measure .............................................................................................. 23

Manager’s Letter .............................................................................................................................. 24

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McInnis Canyons NCA Profile

Designating Authority

Designating Authority: Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area and Black Ridge

Canyons Wilderness Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-535), October 24, 2000, renamed

through Public Law 108-400, October 30, 2004.

Date of Designation: October 24, 2000

Acreage

Total Acres in Unit 123,460 Acres

BLM Acres 123,460 Acres

Other Federal Acres 25 Acres (FAA)

State Acres* 0

Private Acres* 814 Acres *State and Private acres do not fall within the BLM’s management of the unit

Contact Information

Unit Manager Collin Ewing

Phone 970-244-3000

E-mail cewing@blm.gov

Mailing Address 2815 H Road. Grand Junction, CO 81506

Field Office Name Grand Junction

District Office Name Southwest

State Office Name Colorado

Budget

Total Fiscal Year 2016 Budget $938,000

Subactivity 1711 $580,000

Other Subactivities’ Contributions $245,000

Other Funding $33,000 State of Colorado OHV grant,

$80,000 Ruby Horsethief camping fees

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Map of McInnis Canyons NCA

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Managing Partners N/A

Staffing

The permanent staff of the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area (MCNCA) consists

of a National Conservation Area (NCA) manager (currently shared with Dominguez-

Escalante NCA), a science ecologist (shared with Dominguez-Escalante NCA), a law

enforcement officer (shared with Dominguez-Escalante NCA), a National Conservation

Lands Specialist (shared with shared with Dominguez-Escalante NCA) a Supervisory Park

Ranger and a River Ranger. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, seasonal staff included a Wilderness

Ranger, two Ecology interns shared with Dominguez-Escalante NCA (D-E NCA), two Off-

Highway Vehicle (OHV) Trail Crew members shared with D-E NCA, and two recreation

maintenance interns shared with shared with D-E NCA and Grand Junction Field Office

(GJFO).

The NCA receives special recreation permit administration, facilities maintenance and

other program support from the GJFO and Uncompahgre Field Office (UFO), primarily in the

areas of visitor services and contact; geology and paleontology; archaeology; realty; range

management; wildlife biology; ecology; weed management; geographic information

systems (GIS); and soil, water and air quality. BLM has partnered with Colorado Canyons

Association to hire two NCA Stewardship Coordinator positions that coordinate volunteer

stewardship and youth education programs for MCNCA and D-E NCA.

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Planning and NEPA

Status of the Resource Management Plan The BLM completed the Colorado MCNCA Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP)

and Record of Decision in October 2004.

Status of Activity Plans The 2004 RMP was very detailed. It included many of the components of an activity level

plan. The RMP included travel management route designations; identified new routes to be

constructed; identified gate placements; day use areas; parking areas; direction for posting

visitor use information; outcomes; setting prescriptions; management and marketing

actions; and administrative and monitoring actions for each management zone.

A majority of these actions are complete and additional needs identified in areas of high

recreation use such as Ruby Horsethief Canyons and the Fruita Front Country. As a result,

the BLM completed two activity level planning efforts in 2011-2012 and are now in the

process of implementation.

Key National Environmental Policy Act Actions and/or Project Authorizations MCNCA Programmatic SRP

Authorization: Environmental Assessment (EA) (DOI-BLM-CO-134-2013-0005-EA) analyzed

impacts to resources and resource uses from typical recreation activities authorized with

Special Recreation Permits (SRPs). The BLM designed this EA to streamline National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process for SRP proposals and renewals.

Mack Ridge Trails

Authorization: Environmental Assessment (DOI-BLM-CO-N034-2015-0001-EA) authorized

the construction of five new trails/reroutes, totaling 6.4 miles, in the Kokopelli/Mack Ridge

trail system. The BLM conceptually identified two of those trails in the 2004 MCNCA RMP.

Planning for this project involved a unique partnership between the BLM, the City of Fruita,

Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association (COPMOBA), and several Fruita

businesses. These partners contributed approximately 10,000 dollars to hire a contractor

to perform archaeology and vegetation surveys required for NEPA analysis. COPMOBA

volunteers helped with layout of the trails.

Skinner Cabin Access, Interpretation, and Rehabilitation Project

Authorization: Environmental Assessment (DOI-BLM-CO-N034-2016-0003-EA) analyzes

opportunities for access, interpretation, and protection of Skinner Cabin, a cultural

resource site (stone house) built in the early 20th century. The purpose of the project was

to rehabilitate the Skinner Cabin structure and to provide access and interpretation to the

site. The project addresses the disrepair and deterioration of the cabin structure and

surrounding site caused naturally over time as well as by vandalism, surface collection,

structural modification and neglect

Special Recreation Permit (SRP) Authorization in MCNCA

In FY 2016, Thirty-eight SRP’s were authorized for DENCA. These SRP’s consist of many

uses which include, big game hunting, river use, and backpacking.

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Year’s Projects and Accomplishments

General Accomplishments Recreation.Gov Implementation

Beginning March 2, 2016, camping permits for the Ruby-Horsethief section of the Colorado

River became available on-line through recreation.gov. This transition now allows boaters

to obtain a permit online at any time of day instead of calling during certain hours. Boaters

no longer have to dial multiple times to get through to a busy permit desk to obtain a

permit. While not without growing pains, the transition to recreation.gov has helped to

manage a huge work load allowing more time to focus on other river projects.

MCNCA Sign Installations

The facilities and OHV crews installed around 150 new

MCNCA signs from Rabbit Valley to Fruita Front Country

and Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Area. Many of the

new trailhead and portal signs feature new locations and

increase visibility of the area. We have received positive

feedback from community members and trail users.

MCNCA Fire Ring Removal

The facilities crew removed several dozen inappropriate fire rings throughout MCNCA. Staff

found many of these in Rabbit Valley area and Black Ridge Wilderness. Along with

removing the fire rings, facilities crew members educated the public on sustainable

camping methods and regulations of specific areas.

The Skinner Stone House Monitoring, Restoration, and Interpretation Project

With special one-time funding, the BLM conducted a project to rehabilitate and stabilize

Skinner Cabin, a stone house built in the early

1900s in the Fruita Paleo Area. Through

partnership with HistoriCorps (a non-profit

organization that preserves historic properties),

Colorado Canyons Association, and the Museums

of Western Colorado, the BLM completed

successful restoration work on the cabin over a

three-week period in September 2016. The BLM

has also partnered with the Museum of the West

(MWC) to provide interpretive kiosks along the trail to the cabin, outlining its unusual

history. Special thanks to the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit for

their support cutting and hauling timbers for this project.

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Keeping It Wild: Wilderness Character Cultural

Resource Monitoring

This year, Archaeology Technicians inventoried and

monitored cultural resources in the Black Ridge

Canyons Wilderness Area. Highlights from the

monitoring included three historic cabins, two of

which are old sheepherding line shacks, a 600-year

old site with standing wood structures, and a site

with a woven fragment (likely from a basket or

sandal) – a rare find in this area! With this

monitoring data, we were able to establish baseline

conditions for future trend monitoring of human

developments in wilderness.

Keeping It Wild Wilderness Character Monitoring

This year, MCNCA staffed monitored 75,439 acres of Black Ridge Wilderness Area.

Through the assistantship agreement with Western Colorado Conservation Corps, MCNCA

staff was able to hire a Wilderness Ranger intern to inventory the wilderness area. During

this inventory over 350 miles of hiking was completed in order to record Wilderness

Character and historical cabins within the wilderness boundary.

Colorado Canyons Association Partnership Excellence Award

The BLM awarded Colorado Canyons Association (CCA)

the Partnership Excellence Award for their work

protecting National Conservation Lands in western

Colorado and for their educational activities in the tri-

county area near Grand Junction. NCA Manager Collin

Ewing and CCA executive Director Joe Neuhof travelled

to Spokane, Washington to attend the Association of

Partners for Public Lands national conference where

BLM Community Partnerships Division Chief Janet Ady

presented the award.

NCA Law Enforcement Ranger Frank Stepleton named Ranger of the Year

For his efforts in building multi-agency working

relationships, as well as enhancing the

protection pf public lands and visitor safety

through proactive enforcement, The BLM

recognized BLM Ranger Frank Stepleton. His

work over the past year led to several key

indictments for criminal activity on public lands

including illegal hunting, illegal marijuana

cultivation on public lands, and illegal dumping.

Many of these law enforcement actions

included close coordination with state and local

law enforcement agencies.

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Current Areas of Focus Colorado River Corridor

The major areas of focus for the MCNCA in FY 2016 were improving and managing the

river camping permit system and operating the NCA’s highly successful volunteer and

partnership programs to remove invasive plants and trash from along the riverfront and

restore native cottonwood trees. The BLM and the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire

Management Unit mechanically removed, piled and burned 25 acres of tamarisk. These

are ongoing, long-term programs that will continue well beyond the next fiscal year. In

order to ensure retention of remaining and reestablished cottonwood galleries for

campsite quality and wildlife habitat, BLM instituted fire restrictions through a permit

stipulation along the Colorado River in the summer of 2016. While the BLM allows

campfires in the remainder of the NCA, fire restrictions are still in place along the river due

to dense fine fuel loading and heavy recreation use.

During 2016, the NCA staff issued 2,649 camping permits for the Ruby-Horsethief Canyon

stretch of the Colorado River. This year permits were available online at Recreation.gov.

We have seen a steady increase in visitors from 11,000 river runners when we instituted

the permit system seven days a week in 2013 to close to 23,014 in 2016. Seventy-five

percent of people floating Ruby-Horsethief are from outside of Mesa County. With this

higher visitation, River Rangers Troy Schnurr and Shaun Ray conducted close to 90 river

patrols in 2016.

McInnis Canyons OHV Crew Grant

The BLM GJFO utilized Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) OHV Grant funds to hire two NCA

OHV crew members who worked from May 2016, through November 2016. The crew spent

the season repairing OHV trails, installing signage and educating the public.

Some the key contributions made by our first OHV crew include:

Construction, repair and maintenance of 166 trail drainage features,

Preparation, installation and painting of 144 signs,

Installation and maintenance of approximately 12 miles of post and cable fencing,

Removal of 115 fire rings throughout OHV use areas,

Provision of public information, maps and education regarding OHV recreation

opportunities.

Wildland Fires

In FY 2016, MCNCA had six wildland fires for a total of 1.2 acres. None of these fires had a

major impact on recreation or use of areas.

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Education, Outreach, and Interpretation

Schools and Outdoor Learning Environments (SOLE) Family

Nature Night

Two groups from BLM and CCA attended family nature night

to teach students about the NCAs Archeological and

Paleontological resources. BLM staff used the archaeological

resource kit to teach students about prehistoric people

through interactive learning. Students were also able to

create fossil casts and learn about the NCA’s prehistoric

animals from CCA staff. BLM and CCA staff educated 65

students and 40 adults at Pomona Elementary School.

Dino Days at Dinosaur Journey Museum

BLM participated in Dinosaur Journey Museum’s Dino Days. This local

event invites members of the community to enjoy a free day at the

museum to participate in variety of activities related to Paleontology.

The BLM staff hosted a booth where children could come learn about

dinosaur tracks and paint their very own

Archeology and Paleontology Camp

BLM and the MWC partnered to offer two archaeology and paleontology kids camp for

third, fourth and fifth graders. Sixty District 51 students were able to participate in this

awesome program that included tours of the museum and field opportunities in MCNCA.

BLM and MWC also created a curriculum for use in the fall and spring of each year.

Mesa County High School River Trip

BLM and Colorado Canyons Association and Adventure Bound Expeditions hosted a river

trip for Central High School AP Environmental Studies class. During this trip we educated

25 high school students about cultural and natural resources along the river. Students

were spent the evening camping by the Colorado River and learned valuable skills such as

how to dress for weather and insects, how to set up a tent, and leave no trace ethics

including use of fire pans and portable toilet systems.

RIO Colorado River Trip

Through CCA and the GOCO Inspire Grant 20 local

youth enjoyed the Ruby Horsethief Corridor of the

Colorado River. These students were learned about

river safety, practice their communication and team

building skills.

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Dual Immersion Academy (DIA) STEM Programs

BLM and CCA partnered to host Science, Technology,

Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs for DIA. CCA’s

Stewardship Coordinator hosted two outdoor field trips in

MCNCA that focused on geology, paleontology and our

local resources. Students went to Dinosaur Journey’s

Museum to view BLM collections and make observations

about our prehistoric life.

Nature Knowledge Days

CCA and BLM co-hosted Nature Knowledge Days in MCNCA. During

this event over 700 third grade students from 12 District 51 schools

visited eight different stations to learn about the cultural and

natural resources of the NCA from 20 volunteers and professionals.

Teacher on the Public Lands

BLM participated in Teacher on the Public Lands through the Hands on the Land program.

During this 160 hour internship a high school teacher from R-5 High School in Grand

Junction introduced students to the BLM mission and resources. As a result of this

experience, the teacher developed a natural resources lesson plan that will educate high

school students in District 51.

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Partnerships Museums of Western Colorado (MWC) - Dinosaur Journey Museum

In 2016 paleontologists from the Dinosaur Journey

Museum in Fruita conducted excavations in the

Mygatt-Moore quarry in late May through late August.

Several days of excavations also occurred in May at

the Callison Quarry in the Fruita Paleo Area (FPA).

Additionally the Museum surface collected eggshell

and fossil bones from the Kirkland Dryosaur Site in the FPA. Along with conducting

excavations throughout the NCA, the museum hosts hikes and excavations through their

SRP.

Colorado Canyons Association (CCA)

Colorado Canyons Association is the friends group to the BLM’s

local NCAs. In FY 2016, they have helped BLM staff host river

cleanups, trail monitoring classes and educational trips for area

youth. CCA provided crucial assistance in providing visitor

services for the NCA at the BLM office, organizing volunteer

projects, and creating awareness in the community surrounding

the stewardship and management of the NCA.

City of Fruita

BLM and the City of Fruita worked together

to complete environmental planning for 6.5

miles of new bike trails in the

Kokopelli/Mack Ridge trail system. In

addition Fruita installed an interpretive sign

on their new riverfront trail inviting the

public to explore the NCA.

AmeriCorps-VISTA

In 2016, BLM and CCA were proud to host an AmeriCorps-VISTA

volunteer to assist with conserving our NCAs. During Killian

Rush’s VISTA appointment she assisted with setting up STEM

programming for Dual Immersion Academy, engaged multiple

communities about how they enjoy public lands and

coordinated a volunteer river cleanup on the Ruby Horsethief.

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Colorado Mesa University

MCNCA staff has partnered with Colorado

Mesa University (CMU) for many different

projects. MCNCA hosted several student

interns from CMU’s Environmental Science

Program. Interns completed Assessment,

Inventory and Monitoring studies, continued work on a plant inventory, completed rare

plant monitoring, and surveyed for the federally Threatened yellow-billed cuckoo.

Other Partnerships

The MCNCA staff also closely collaborated with the Interpretative Association of Western

Colorado, CPW, Geological Society of America, The Tamarisk Coalition, and Western

Colorado Conservation Corps, Grand Valley Trails Alliance, Grand Mesa Backcountry

Horsemen, Motorcycle Trailriders Association, Hilltop Trail Crew, and School District 51.

Volunteers Colorado River trash removal

In August of 2016, the BLM partnered with Western

Association to Enjoy Rivers for the tenth annual

Colorado River cleanup. Over 70 volunteers

participated to collect trash along the Colorado River

through the City of Grand Junction just upstream of the

NCA.

McInnis Canyons River Cleanup

BLM partnered with CCA to host the 5th annual McInnis Canyons River cleanup. Seventeen

volunteers spent two days on the Colorado River in Ruby-Horsethief Canyons and donated

272 hours of picking up trash on a 25 mile section of the river.

Trail Monitoring Program

In 2016, our trail monitoring program hosted by CCA continued to be successful. We

revitalized the program and train 12 new volunteers to collect while hiking in MCNCA.

National Public Lands Day-Skinner Cabin Fencing Project

This year, MCNCA hosted a National Public Lands Day event in

partnership with CCA. Volunteers helped to install a fence

around the historical Skinner Cabin location in Fruita

Paleontological Area. The day was finished by an Atalatl

throwing competition and lunch from Hot Tomato. REI helped to

support the event by donating prizes for the day.

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Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association, Inc (COPMOBA)

COPMOBA worked with the BLM in the Mack Ridge

trail system on Steve's Loop performing trail

maintenance as part of their Monday night

maintenance program throughout 2016.

COPOMOBA was a key member of a partnership

with the BLM, City of Fruita, and Fruita area

businesss providing volunteer time and funds for

the survey work necessary to build new trails in the area. They also volunteered their time

to put flag lines on the ground as part of the trail layout process.

Mesa Monument Striders

The Mesa Monument Striders and BLM staff identified Pollock Bench as

an area of concern. Grand Valley Trails Alliance (GVTA) along with Chris

Pipkin and Mike Jones provided a short demonstration followed by

breaking into three groups to improve and install drainages along an old

road. The Striders also helped to improve Troy Built Trail in the Mack

Ridge trail system.

Motorcycle Trail Riders Association

Motorcycle Trail Riders Association (MTRA) participated in a BLM

hosted basic trails class in the office. After the class MTRA

members and BLM staff did a tour of Rabbit Valley and discussed

maintenance of Trail 3. On National Public Lands Day, MTRA

members and BLM staff installed rock ramps and water drainage

systems. MTRA used both hand tools and their new singletrack

trail dozer.

Land (or Interests in Land) Acquisitions “N/A.”

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Science

McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area Plant Inventory

CMU continues to study of the plant species that comprise MCNCA.

Through this study, CMU will create a checklist of plant species

found within the NCA. In 2016, the BLM identified and mounted

numerous plant specimens for the CMU herbarium. Field work and

work to convert data to GIS files will continue in 2017. Once the

study is finished the BLM will share the checklist with the public

through CMU and BLM’s websites for visitors to use.

Survey and Monitoring of bats

A study of the bat species was started to increase information of bat species within the

Grand Valley. Through this study CPW hope to learn about occurrence of roosting habitat of

bats within the area. During this study the BLM monitored approximately 40,566 acres of

the NCA for bat species. This will be a two year assessment that will focus on a portion of

MCNCA and the Colorado National Monument.

Survey of species composition and distribution of Tardigrades in the

high desert

CMU researchers have been working to survey tardigrades found in

mosses in the area and have collected specimens from the MCNCA.

Research is ongoing.

Salt Desert Restoration with the use of Native Shrub Species

The three NCA’s: MCNCA, DENCA, and Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area

(GGNCA), were able to leverage a National Conservation Lands (NCL) Science grant and

provide funding to expand the partnership to include Colorado State University. Currently a

post-doctoral student under Professor Mark Paschke is reviewing literature and past BLM

treatments in salt desert habitats. This portion of the project is expected to be finalized by

fall 2016, and will provide the BLM with a comprehensive review of local successes and

failures on BLM lands, as well as successes and failures in other salt desert settings. With

this information the BLM can maximize the likelihood of success with native plant

materials provided by the Upper Colorado Native Plant Center.

Mygatt-Moore Quarry Excavations

Work at the quarry in Rabbit Valley was very successful

this year, with the major paleontological find being the

discovery and complete excavation of the skull and

associated neck vertebrae from a diplodocine sauropod

dinosaur, likely Apatosaurus. Paleontologists removed

several other large jackets from the north side of the

quarry, some jacketed over five years ago.

Lachlan Barrett an eight year old boy from Florida uncovered the 140-million-year-old skull

on the MWCs dinosaur dig at the Mygatt-Moore Quarry. Scientists believe it belonged to an

apatosaurus louisae, which would make it the fourth such specimen ever found and the

only one with vertebrae still attached. This rare find has gained both national and

international attention.

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Resources, Objects, Values, and Stressors

Cultural resources Cultural resources are among the listed purposes of MCNCA that enable legislation, and

the NCA enjoys an extraordinary abundance of these resources, including an array of

prehistoric and historic sites and artifacts.

The BLM is committed to conserving, protecting and restoring the unique values of the NCA

and furthering the goals of the BLM’s National Conservation Lands, of which the NCA is a

part. The NCA’s cultural resource management staff focuses on clearly communicating the

importance of conserving and protecting NCA values and expanding the BLM’s

understanding of NCA resources through assessment, inventory, and monitoring.

Cultural resources (includes archeological and historical) Status and Trend Table

Status of Resource, Object, or Value Trend

Good Stable

Cultural resources Inventory, Assessment, Monitoring Table

Acres in Unit Acres Inventoried Acres Possessing

Object

Acres Monitored in

FY 16

123,000 22,164 2,303 120

Stressors Affecting Cultural Resources Stresses on cultural resources and values include (human caused), wildland fire,

recreational use, livestock grazing, right-of-way proximity, air pollution, theft, surface

disturbance, vandalism, and increased access.

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Natural Resources, including biological and environmental values Natural resources are among the purposes of MCNCA that that enable legislation, and the

NCA enjoys an extraordinary abundance of these resources, including an array of rare and

common plant and animal species.

Natural Resources Status and Trend Table

Resource, Object, or Value Status Trend

Natural Good Stable

Biological Good Stable

Environmental Good Stable

Natural Resources Inventory, Assessment, Monitoring Table

Resource,

Object or Value Acres in Unit Acres Inventoried

Acres Possessing

Object

Acres Monitored

in FY 16

Natural 123,000 123,000 123,000 14,979

Biological 123,000 123,000 123,000 40

Environmental 123,000 123,000 123,000 20,729

Stressors Affecting Natural Resources Stresses on natural and cultural resources and values include (human-caused) wildland

fire, invasive plants, recreational use, livestock grazing, domestic livestock diseases, loss of

habitat, right-of-way proximity, air pollution, non-native animals, water pollution, theft,

surface disturbance, vandalism, and increased access.

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Water, soil, air resources, including natural and environmental values Nineteen miles of the Colorado River flow through the MCNCA, and all the side canyons

have seasonal flows resulting from snowmelt and summer rainstorms. These aquatic

resources are important to fish and wildlife, and the river is popular for visitors to boat and

camp. BLM staff members work to expand understanding of these resources through

assessment, inventory, and monitoring.

Water, soil, and air resources Status and Trend Table

Resources, Object or Value Status of Resource, Object, or

Value Trend

Water Resources Good overall Stable and Improving

Soil Resources Good overall Stable and Declining

Air Resources Good Stable

Water, soil, and air resources Inventory, Assessment, Monitoring Table

Resources,

Object, or Value Acres in Unit Acres

Inventoried

Acres Possessing

Object

Acres/Miles

Monitored in FY

16

Water

Resources 123,000 acres 123,000acres 1,000 acres 13 miles

Soil Resources 123,000 123,000 123,000 0

Air Resources 123,000 123,000 123,000 0

Stressors Affecting Water, soil, and air resources Invasive aquatic plants, recreational use, improper livestock grazing, and air and water

resources can threaten water resources.

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Recreational resources Recreation is listed as one of the purposes of the NCA in its enabling legislation, and

visitors to the NCA can participate in an exceptionally wide variety of recreational activities,

including world-class mountain biking, river rafting, hiking, camping, hunting, horseback

riding, OHV travel and wildlife viewing. Visitors can also enjoy a broad range of recreational

settings, including remote wilderness, riparian wetlands and culturally or historically

significant sites. The 142-mile Kokopelli Trail runs though the NCA to Moab, Utah, and the

Colorado River winds its way for 19 miles through the spectacular canyon country of the

NCA.

The BLM’s recreation staff assists in planning for and managing recreational resources and

facilities in a manner that conserves NCA values. Thus, roads and other facilities are built

only when necessary for public health and safety, for exercise of existing rights, to

minimize impacts to resources, or to otherwise further the purposes for which the NCA was

designated. Recreation staff members actively engage stakeholders through the land-use

planning process to help identify existing and potential uses that are compatible with the

legislated purposes of the NCA, and the BLM practices a community-based approach to

providing recreational services that is consistent with the purposes of the NCA and the

socioeconomic goals of adjacent or nearby communities.

Recreational resources Status and Trend Table

Status of Resource, Object, or Value Trend

Good Stable

Recreational resources Inventory, Assessment, Monitoring Table

Acres in Unit Acres Inventoried Acres Possessing

Object

Acres Monitored in

FY 16

123,000 123,000 123,000 50,000

Stressors Affecting Recreational Resources Recreational resources and values may be adversely affected by any of the stressors that

affect natural and cultural resources, because recreational visitors to the NCA often go

there expecting (for example) to see pristine habitat, healthy wildlife, or undamaged rock

art. Recreational use itself can damage recreational resources, especially with increased

use due to local and regional population growth. With increased use of public lands, user

interactions can also influence recreation experiences. Some interactions can be positive

which would enhance an experience, while some can be negative degrading an experience.

Right-of-way proximity and air pollution may also threaten the integrity of the recreational

experience.

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Wilderness and Scenic Values Congress designated the 75,479 acre Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness in 2000, and is

located within the MCNCA. The BLM is committed to protect wilderness areas in such a

manner as to preserve wilderness character as well as effectively manage recreational,

scenic, scientific, education, conservation and historic uses permitted under Section 4(c)

and 4(d) of the Wilderness Act of 1964.

Section 4(b) of the Wilderness act sets forth the BLM’s responsibility in administering the

Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness, and states that the preservation of wilderness character

is the primary management mandate. The monitoring of wilderness character is an

ongoing responsibility, and monitoring changes will help to determine how stewardship

decisions influence trends and prioritize actions. In 2016, BLM staff conducted 13

monitoring tours and logged over 350 hiking miles throughout the Black Ridge Canyons

Wilderness.

The practice of Visual Resource Management (VRM), in BLM land-use planning, inventories

landscape character according to the four basic visual elements: form, line, color and

texture. The BLM uses these elements to analyze impacts of development. BLM staff first

evaluate the planning area and then assign values for several visual elements, based on a

numerical point system. The total points assigned to a given area determine an existing

scenic quality class. In 1987 the BLM inventoried and classified the visual resources of the

MCNCA according to the BLM’s VRM system as part of the Grand Junction Resource

Management Plan. This inventory found 88,366 acres of visual resources in the MCNCA.

Wilderness and scenic values Status and Trend Table

Resource, Object, and

Value

Status of Resource, Object, or

Value Trend

Wilderness Good Stable

Scenic Good Stable

Wilderness Inventory, Assessment, Monitoring Table

Resource,

Object, and

Value

Acres in Unit Acres Inventoried Acres Possessing

Object

Acres Monitored

in FY 16

Wilderness 75,550 75,550 75,550 75,550

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Scenic Values Inventory, Assessment, Monitoring Table

Resource,

Object, and

Value

Acres in Unit Acres Inventoried Acres Possessing

Object

Acres Monitored

in FY 16

Scenic Values,

VRM Class I 75,550 75,550 75,550 75,550

Scenic Values,

VRM Class II 11,580 11,580 11,580 11,580

Scenic Values,

VRM Class III 1,236 1,236 1,236 1,236

Stressors Affecting Wilderness and Scenic Values Any of the stressors that affect resources within the NCA may also adversely affect

wilderness resources and scenic values, with visitor use causing the greatest negative

effects on wilderness characteristics. Visitor use itself can damage the resource, especially

with increased use due to local and regional population growth.

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Scientific, geological, and paleontological resources The scientific resources of the MCNCA are cited in its enabling legislation as one of the

purposes for its designation, as are the geological, cultural, paleontological, biological and

wildlife resources, all of which are suitable for scientific study and are abundant in the

NCA. Scientific study of these resources benefits the scientific community as a whole and

effectively informs the BLM’s management of the NCA. The NCA staff works to identify

research needs, encourage science partnerships and citizen science, and incorporate

scientific results into management, decision-making, and outreach.

BLM staff members promote the NCA to universities and research institutions as an

outdoor research and educational laboratory and potential demonstration center for

emerging technology and innovative management practices. In turn, academic institutions,

aware of the unique and valuable resources in the NCA, seek out partnerships with the

BLM to conduct scientific research and education in the NCA.

Scientific, geological, and paleontological Status and Trend Table

Resource, Object, or Value Status of Resource, Object, or

Value Trend

Scientific Good Stable

Geological (Precambrian to

Quaternary Rocks) Good Stable

Paleontological

(Scientifically important

vertebrate fossils)

Good Overall Some vandalism, but stable

overall.

Scientific, geological, and paleontological Inventory, Assessment, Monitoring Table

Resource,

Object, or Value Acres in Unit Acres Inventoried

Acres Possessing

Object

Acres Monitored

in FY 16

Scientific 123,000 123,000 123,000 50,000

Geological 123,000 123,000 123,000 5

Paleontological 123,000 75 123,000 25

Stressors Affecting Scientific, geological, and paleontological resources Anything that affects geological, cultural, paleontological, biological or wildlife resources

also affects scientific resources. The primary effects on geological and paleontological

resources are theft and vandalism.

22

Wildlife Education Wildlife education is one of the purposes of the NCA listed in its enabling legislation, and

the BLM strives to provide young people with opportunities to engage in recreation and

practice stewardship on NCA lands and to learn about NCA resources and land

management. BLM staff members seek out partnerships with local schools and educators

to help them interpret National Conservation Lands and NCA values, and the BLM provides

interpretive and educational materials to NCA users through the GJFO and the NCA.

Wildlife Education Status and Trend Table

Status of Resource, Object, or Value Trend

Good Stable

Wildlife Education Inventory, Assessment, Monitoring Table

Acres in Unit Acres Inventoried Acres Possessing

Object

Acres Monitored in

FY 16

123,000 123,000 123,000 100

Stressors Affecting Wildlife Education Risk factors for wildlife (and thus wildlife education) include loss of habitat, right-of-way

proximity, non-native animals and increased access.

23

Summary of Performance Measure

Resources, Objects, and Values Status Summary Table

Resource, Object, or Value Status Trend

Cultural (includes

archaeological and historical) Good Stable

Natural Good Stable

Biological Good Stable

Environmental Good Stable

Water Resources Good overall Stable and improving

Soil Resources Good overall Stable and declining

Air Resources Good Stable

Recreational Good Stable

Wilderness Good Stable

Scenic Good Stable

Scientific Good Stable

Geological (Precambrian to

Quaternary rocks) Good overall Stable

Wildlife Education Good Stable

6 6

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Manager’s Letter

In 2014, BLM released the new National Recreation Strategy.

Titled "Connecting with Communities" this strategy represents a

paradigm shift in how we engage the public in managing

recreation opportunities. As described in the new strategy

document, public lands are connected to and integrated with

communities—not federally designated islands separated from

them. This recreation strategy is different because it focuses on

proactive engagement with communities, locally based

government agencies, and service provider businesses, and

emphasizes benefits from the perspective of community networks

of service providers. It is not business as usual; it is a serious effort

to reposition resources in support of community values while

optimizing benefits for the public. While we will continue to use

the traditional procedural mechanisms to gather public input that we have always relied on

(scoping letters, comment periods), we are now also directed to reach out to community

leaders, local agencies, and community networks of service providers, to understand how

the community values it's neighboring public lands.

We at the BLM office in Grand Junction are very excited about this new approach, and we

are fortunate to have a great community to pilot this strategy with. The City of Fruita has

made it known that they want to be the shining example of a BLM connected community.

The Grand Junction BLM office and the city of Fruita have entered into a Memorandum of

Agreement to align our recreation and visitor services goals. The City of Fruita and its

network of service providers have stepped up to the plate to contribute resources to help

BLM work toward shared goals. Hot Tomato Cafe and Pizzeria, Colorado Backcountry Biker,

and Over the Edge Sports along with Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association are

contributing funding and volunteer labor to complete the layout and necessary

archaeology, rare plant and wildlife surveys for new mountain bike trails in the Kokopelli

Loops trail system and to get the trails built. Together we have engaged area youth from

Western Colorado Conservation Corps to begin construction of these new trails. The City is

working with BLM on maintenance of the Devil's Canyon and Fruita Paleo Area trailheads,

and applying for grants for future projects with BLM support.

Connecting with Communities directs the BLM recreation program to prioritize its work

with projects that result in greatest socioeconomic benefit to nearby communities. The

willingness of the Fruita partnership to invest resources in this trail project helped the BLM

to prioritize this project over many other competing projects. The ability of the partnership

to not only bring resources to the table, but to also articulate the community benefits that

would result from the investment helped the BLM focus limited resources to a project that

will result in positive benefits to the local community.

7

25

We hope to use this model to connect with other communities and other recreation users

(ATV, motorcycle, hiking, equestrian, rivers). The National Conservation Area is a perfect

place to showcase this new strategy and we believe the Fruita partnership will serve as a

model for how BLM engages communities in the management of their public lands.

Colin Ewing

Manager, Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area

McInnis Canyons National Conservation Areas

Southwest District Office

Bureau of Land Management

Grand Junction Field Office

2815 H Rd.

Grand Junction, CO 81506

Phone: 970-244-3000

12/9/2016

The mention of company names, trade names, or commercial products does not constitute

endorsement or recommendation for use by the federal government.