United States Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Uncompahgre Field Office
2465 S Townsend Ave.
Montrose, CO 81401
Attn: Caroline Kilbane.
SUBJECT: Public Comments, Naturita Travel Management Plan (TMP)
Dear Ms. Kilbane
Thank you for the opportunity to provide public comments on the Naturita Travel Management Plan (TMP). We appreciate the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Uncompahgre Field Office (UFO) efforts in managing these public lands and offer the following input for consideration.
About the Trails Preservation Alliance
The Trails Preservation Alliance (TPA) is a volunteer-driven organization committed to working with the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to preserve off-highway motorcycle (OHM) recreation. While our primary focus is advocating for multiple-use, motorized singletrack trails, we strongly support maintaining and expanding access for all forms of motorized, off-highway recreation, as well as responsible non-motorized uses. We believe in a balanced approach that ensures fair and equitable access for all public land users.
However, motorized access and recreational opportunities continue to diminish despite an ever increasing demand. Many recent travel management decisions have further restricted motorized recreation, concentrating use on fewer trails and inadvertently creating greater impacts—often leading to additional closures. A recent TPA study, the Colorado Off-Highway Motorcycle Trail Opportunity Plan (COTOP), found that of approximately 28,000 miles of singletrack trails in Colorado, only 2,200 miles (8%) are designated for motorized use.
The Importance of a Multiple-Use Approach
Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the BLM is required to balance multiple uses on public lands. This includes ensuring diverse recreational opportunities, such as motorized access. The law (43 U.S.C. § 1702(c)) directs public lands to be managed for a combination of uses that best meet present and future needs, including recreation, range, timber, minerals, watershed, and wildlife values.
With growing demand for motorized multiple-use trails and recreational opportunities compounded by decreasing access, we urge the BLM to preserve the existing motorized multiple-use characteristics of the TMP area and expand these opportunities in future phases of the Naturita TMP process.
Key Considerations for the Naturita TMP
We recognize that this first phase of planning focuses on:
- Identifying missing routes and correcting data inaccuracies (such as misalignments),
- Assessing use levels and types,
- Evaluating staging areas and access points, and
- Understanding general land use patterns.
Since we do not have detailed data on missing or misaligned routes, our comments primarily focus on use levels, general area usage, infrastructure support (parking, camping, restrooms, etc.), and overall access to the Naturita TMP and the greater Paradox Extensive Recreation Management Area (ERMA).
The Naturita TMP covers approximately 14,000 acres within the broader 40,000-acre Paradox ERMA. The UFO Resource Management Plan (RMP) has identified the Paradox ERMA as suitable for all types of recreation development, providing an opportunity for future motorized multiple-use trail proposals. This is a key opportunity to establish a framework for long-term connectivity and enhancement of multiple-use recreational opportunities.
A critical component of this TMP is the inclusion of at least one motorized multiple-use singletrack trail, allowing OHM access to and from the town of Naturita. This connection lays the foundation for expanding access to existing and future trails proposed in the Flattops and Sawtooth areas (as outlined in the West End Trails Alliance (WETA) proposal) and the larger Paradox ERMA.
To maintain the motorized multiple-use character of the southernmost Paradox ERMA—particularly north of State Highway 90 and in the areas referred to as Flattops and Sawtooth in the WETA proposal—we strongly encourage the BLM to preserve all existing motorized routes and designate certain proposed trails, particularly those at the outermost reaches from Naturita and designed for longer rides, as motorized multiple-use. Doing so will enhance connectivity, expand funding opportunities, and ensure eligibility for long-term trail maintenance through Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) grant funds.
Additionally, this TMP is, in part, a response to WETA’s proposal for an extensive multiple-use mountain bike trail system. As the TMP develops, integrating motorized multiple-use designations where appropriate will work to create a more sustainable and inclusive trail network.
Through experience with similar projects across Colorado and beyond, the TPA has observed that trail development can bring unforeseen infrastructure needs, such as adequate parking, restrooms, picnic areas, camping facilities, etc. We appreciate that the UFO and WETA are proactively considering these needs as part of the long-term success of this recreational asset.
Alignment with the EXPLORE Act
As one of the first travel plans released after the passage of the EXPLORE Act, it is essential that the BLM ensures a complete and accurate trail inventory. The Act directs federal agencies to “seek to create additional opportunities, as appropriate, and in accordance with existing law, for motorized and non motorized access.” To fulfill this requirement, travel planning must not only document existing opportunities but also incorporate meaningful expansions of access.
Conclusion
We urge the BLM to take a balanced approach that aligns with multiple-use mandates and the intent of the EXPLORE Act. By preserving and expanding motorized multiple-use access, the BLM can enhance recreational opportunities, improve connectivity, and ensure a sustainable future for all trail users.
The TPA thanks the BLM, Uncompahgre Field Office for considering our comments and input. We genuinely look forward to continuing to work with and partnering with the Uncompahgre Field Office in the future to develop a sustainable, reasonable and attainable plan for the Naturita TMP. If you have any questions regarding our comments or require additional information please feel free to contact me at chad@coloradotpa.org
Chad Hixon
Executive Director
Trails Preservation Alliance
chad@coloradotpa.org