Closed area on Ark.? Options

[traddoerr]

I was just talking to a gentleman about the Ark. river North of Beuna vista and they said that is has been closed by the BLM for any prospecting from the GPAA claims down to jump rock, has any one else heard this as well, I haven't had the chance to call the local office yet to confirm. I have fished spots along that stretch but was going to try a little prospecting there this year as well.

[traddoerr]

Hello All,
Once again I have some more info for you all ( a friend of mine that is a lobbyist/legal consultant, wont give his name as he wants to keep low key from what he calls the enemy).

Russ, I don't know if the GPAA claims/club are an issue but I just got word that the area FS manager is upset that BLM doesn't manage it's lands the same as the USFS, and I hear there starting to raise a little stink about it to the higher ups to put pressure on the BLM,but the BLM managers aren't budging,GOOD FOR THEM! .

From what I understand, that the land managment plan for the public lands (FS,BLM) is going to make some big changes, it started 5yrs ago and this year they really upped the pace, the FS has closed HUNDREDS! of roads/trails and hundreds more to be closed, for vehical/public use in Colorado alone, there not designated as wilderness areas but are going to be managed as wilderness (primitive areas), and WITH SOME NEW RULES! and the FS has full authority to do so and backed by our officals and new laws/rules passed by Congress, this may not affect many of the lower water systems but if you go into the high country this could affect you, BUT! the plan does have some of the lower elevation areas in the plan.

You can look this managment plan up on the USFS site/BLM site. so some of these changes are going to effect many users/recreationalists. hunting/fishing/camping/hiking,ect, and mining.

I found out that an area I hunt and am going to prospect in has been designated as a primitive area this year, so this means that camping now has to be in designated camp grounds (fee areas maybe) and now instead of a 3mile hike it's going to be 7miles, from what I understand some new rules for suface use will be inforced as well, NO! new roads/trails can be made for ANY reason is one of the new laws.

If you go to some of the hunting web sites (bowsite.com) there is allot of upset people as there hunting access areas are being closed off and the areas where we camp are being changed. There is a CFR (or use to be) that says one can camp any were in the FS system as long as they are no more than 100' from a main road and they are not causing significant surface damage and no designated camping is inforced, this rule is to be managed by the district manager, wilderness areas are a little different as for camping, but with the new rules/laws it gives the district manager more power, so we'll see what happens.

I'll pass on more info as my friend gives us more, it seems to me our countries activists are getting more & more power to get what they want done,and at the tax payers expence!