BLM Colorado Canyons of the Ancients National Monument October 2007 Draft Resource Management Plan – Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Containing the highest known density of archaeological sites in the Nation…natural resources and spectacular landforms…rugged and dissected geology…and wildlife species…I proclaim for the purpose of protecting the objects identified above…Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. The Proclamation 2

Planning Area  165,000 acres public land surface  18,000 acres private land surface  80% currently leased for fluid minerals development  Montezuma and Dolores Counties  Cultural Resources  Grazing Administration  Fluid Minerals  Recreation  Transportation Major Planning Issues 3

Consultation and Coordination FEDERALUSDOI National Park Service, Hovenweep National Monument USDOI Fish and Wildlife Service (Cooperating Agency) USDOI BLM Utah, Monticello Field Office USDA Forest Service, San Juan National Forest Fluid minerals development and viewsheds Herptological species No concerns expressed STATEColorado Historical Society (Cooperating Agency), Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Colorado Division of Wildlife Cultural resource management, stabilization, vandalism, tribal interests Hunting, law enforcement, reintroduction of bighorn sheep LOCALMontezuma Board of County Commissioners Dolores Board of County Commissioners Canyons of the Ancients Advisory Committee Constraints to grazing and fluid mineral development Cultural resources, grazing, fluid minerals, recreation, transportation, private land TRIBAL CONSULTATION The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; The Uintah-Ouray Ute Tribe; The Southern Ute Tribe; The Navajo Nation; The Hopi Tribe; and The Pueblos of Acoma, Cochiti, Isleta, Jemez, Laguna, Nambe, Picuris, Pojoaque, Sandia, San Felipe, San Ildefonso, San Juan, Santa Ana, Santa Clara, Santo Domingo, Taos, Tesuque, Zia, and Zuni Multiple use impacts to ancestral sites and landscapes; research; interpretation; access for traditional use 4

ALTERNATIVES Alternative I No Action Continuation of current management as specified in the San Juan/San Miguel RMP and ROD (1985) and Amendments and the Anasazi ACEC Management Plan (1986), USDOI and BLM Interim Management, and the Mail Trail Settlement Agreement. communities, sites and isolated finds tribal values Emphasizes landscape-scale cultural resource values, i.e. communities, sites and isolated finds and including tribal values, cultural resource protection, and natural resource protection and enhancement. Alternative II communities and sites providing Emphasizes cultural resource site protection, i.e. communities and sites, and natural resource values, while providing for resource use and development. Alternative III communities and sites encouraging Emphasizes cultural resource site protection, i.e. communities and sites, and natural resource values, while encouraging resource use and development. Alternative IV communities, sites tribal values providing Emphasizes cultural resource values, i.e. communities, sites and including tribal values, cultural resource and natural resource protection and enhancement, while providing for resource use and development. Alternative V Preferred Alternative 5

6 Cultural Resources: Alternatives Comparison

Alternative I (No Action)Alternative V (Preferred) Allocate sites for uses: - Scientific/Research - Conservation - Traditional - Public - Experimental - Discharged Implement Outdoor Museum concept Allocate all sites for - Scientific/Research - Conservation - Traditional - Experimental Allocate sites for - Public Allocate 0 sites for - Discharged Stabilize or repair 240 sitesStabilize after human-caused impacts only; otherwise document standing walls and allow to deteriorate Conduct Class III inventory of 15 cultural resource emphasis areas Conduct Class III inventory of areas receiving high public use BLM staff develops research goalsBLM staff develops research goals w/ professional peer review 7

Grazing: Alternatives Comparison Alternative I (No Action) Alternative V (Preferred) Permit 8,492 AUMs Permit 6,437 AUMs Administer 28 allotments Administer 23 allotments Establish no common reserves Establish common reserve allotments 8

Fluid Minerals: Alternatives Comparison Alternative I (No Action) Alternative V (Preferred) Defer leasing until completion of the RMP/EIS 143,500 acres (80%) currently leased for fluid minerals development; 21,500 acres (20%) not leased Lease up to 880 new acres for drainage only No Surface Occupancy Average 2 to 4 new well locations/year on existing leases; 121 new locations in 20 years Estimate 2 new well locations in 20 years on currently unleased land Meet Section 106 requirements Protect cultural resource communities and sites 9

Recreation: Alternatives Comparison 10

Recreation: Alternatives Comparison Alternative I (No Action) Alternative V (Preferred) Develop no promotion strategy; develop facilities as needed; maintain facilities at Lowry, Painted Hand, and Sand Canyon Pueblo Promote an undeveloped management strategy for Sand Canyon-Rock Creek, Mockingbird, Goodman and Squaw/Cross Canyon (4) SRMAs; promote a destination management strategy for AHC and Pueblo Sites (2) SRMAs Continue dispersed recreational camping Prohibit recreational shooting and geocaching Allow climbing only in designated areas Prohibit camping and campfires in Pueblo Sites, Sand Canyon-Rock Creek and AHC SRMAs; allow camping and campfires in all other SRMAs Allow no new commercial permits Allow up to 10 recreation special use permits 11

Transportation: Alternatives Comparison 12

Transportation: Alternatives Comparison Alternative I (No Action)Alternative V (Preferred) Total roads (public access + Administrative) = 149 miles Total roads (public access + Administrative) = 169 miles OHV travel classified as Closed on 25,976 acres and Limited on 138,024 acres; travel on designated roads only OHV travel classified as Closed on 38,598 acres and Limited on 126,737 acres; travel on designated roads only Sand Canyon Trail authorized for primitive non-motorized use (foot, bicycle, or horse) 1987 Cultural Resource Mgmt Plan Proclamation prohibits all motorized and mechanized use off road, except for emergency or authorized administrative purposes. Sand Canyon and East Rock “Roads” authorized for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding 13 DRMP/DEIS defines a “road” as an open way for the passage of vehicles, persons, or animals on land. “Off-road” is defined as cross-country travel between designated roads. All off-road travel by motorized and/or mechanized vehicles is prohibited on the Monument.

Canyons of the Ancients Key Dates Alternative Formulation Analysis of Management Situation 2005 Notice of Availability Draft Environmental Impact Statement September 2007 Public Scoping Period April 2002 to November 2003 Preparation of Draft Environmental Impact Statement Federal Register Notice of Intent April 2002 Notice of Availability Final Environmental Impact Statement Spring 2008 Resource Management Plan Implementation Preparation of Final Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision Resource Management Plan September Day Public Comment Period September 2007 to January 2008 Protest Period/ Governor’s Consistency Review 14

A Planned Romance…. We are moving into an era of managed remoteness, of planned romance. I think that is probably how it has to be if we are to preserve the qualities of the area at all in an increasingly mobile and exploitive society. The challenge is to have an effective management that does not itself overwhelm the values it is designed to protect. Bill Lipe 1980 The Outdoor Museum 15