The Utah Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL) announced in a June 4 press release that it is seeking public comment on the draft Comprehensive Management Plans (CMPs) and draft Mineral Leasing Plan (MLP) for the Green and Colorado rivers.
Multiple open houses will be held to host the public and receive comments about the draft plans.
According to the press release, Utah Administrative Code R652-2-100 authorizes FFSL to prescribe land management objectives for sovereign lands. All residents are encouraged to attend the public open house in their county. The open houses are the second round of public meetings held during this plan development process.
Go to bit.ly/gcrcmp for project information, to submit comments and to find additional public meeting information.
The comment period will run from May 31 through July 19. Comments can be submitted at the public meetings, online at the project website, or via email.
“The beds of navigable waters within the state, including portions of the Green and Colorado rivers, are owned by the state but held in trust for the public,” the release said. “FFSL is required to ensure that all uses on, beneath or above the bed of the Green and Colorado rivers, are regulated to protect navigation, fish and wildlife habitat, aquatic beauty, public recreation and water quality.”
The press release stated that FFSL has spent the past year developing a draft Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) and draft updated Mineral Leasing Plan (MLP) for the state-owned, sovereign land sections of the Green and Colorado rivers.
The CMPs and MLP will be used to create guidance for FFSL on the management of the Green and Colorado river resources.
During the month of June, FFSL, with assistance from its contractors, will present information regarding the draft CMP and MLP management strategies and seek public participation at open house meetings in each county that contains state-owned sovereign land sections of the rivers.
It is anticipated that the final CMPs and MLP and Decision Document will be completed by December 2019.
For more information about the project and/or to be added to our mailing list, contact Gretchen Semerad at 801-322-4307 or gsemerad@swca.com or Laura Vernon at 801-538-5530 or lauravernon@utah.gov.
Grand County residents encouraged to attend open house this year
