This comment period is now closed, thank you everyone that summitted comments. We will keep an eye on this as it proceeds forward and get the word out when the next comment period begins.
Let your voice be heard:
On November 15th the BLM launched an open comment period to help shape the purposed permit system for campsites along the Gunnison River within the Dominguez/Escalante NCA. This new permit system would establish assigned campsites on weekends between May and Labor Day every year. It is commonly believed that as this stretch of river is getting more popular a permit system is becoming more necessary to keep the crowds down to preserve the wildness of the canyon. This plan, when implemented, will likely be in place for the next 20 years or more so we did our best to try and think ahead. To change this plan later will take a lot of work.
Comment Period Ends Dec 15th 2021
Thank you for you interest in this public comment period, input from this really helps shape the future of the area and how it is regulated. The club has reviewed the draft proposal from the BLM and had a public meeting with the BLM to help clear up some details. From the input provided at the public meeting we have discovered what we believe to be the areas of most concern listed below.
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- Permits system enacted for campsites during busy season, but open access the rest of the year
- 18% commercial 82% private with room for special use
- Approval of all BLM proposed campsite
- Addition of 3 more campsites above Escalante Boat Ramp
- Addition of 2 more sites below Poverty Flats
- Designation and development of more accessible campgrounds, a minimum of 1 per section
- Improvements to Whitewater Boat Ramp
- Make boat Launch at Escalante more accessible
- Make boat Launch at Bridgeport more accessible
- Make boat Launch at Whitewater more accessible
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To view the full BLM draft click on the “BLM COMMENT PAGE” button below.
To view a recording of the public meeting head to our YouTube Chanel.
We have drafted a more detailed comment that can be uploaded directly into the comment page. If you agree with what it says please feel free to use the PDF provided by clicking on the button to the right. If you would like to fashion your own comments you can simply click on the “BLM COMMENT PAGE” button below and follow the steps.
GVPC Comment
To use the GVPC Comments click on the button and then download the PDF File. Follow the steps on the BLM comment page and upload the PDF to their site.
We have created these images below to help you navigate the site. You can click on the images to see them bigger.
One of the screens has been tripping a lot of people up. The Participate Button is far right and off of most people’s screens. There is a scroll bar that you can use to scroll over to find the button.
Where are we talking about:
For those that are less familiar with the area we have created this google map that puts a pin in all of the existing boat launches as well as campsites and proposed campsites. Campsites in blue are established sites, purple are proposed new sites by the BLM, and Yellow are potential new sites of which we propose only a few are added to the plan. We are not suggesting that all yellow sites be added, but we gave multiple locations in the hopes that 3 in the upper section and 2 in the lower would be suitable.
This comment period is specifically for river corridor within the Dominguez Escalante NCA which starts roughly where the first proposed campsite is on the map above and ends around the Whitewater Boat “Ramp”. The section of river below Whitewater runs mostly through BLM land and the takeout at the roller dam is on BLM property however this is outside the scope of this comment period. The GVPC plans to also work with the BLM to make improvements to that section but that will be in another action. We’ll keep you posted as more comes up on that front.