The Browns Canyon National Monument was established by presidential proclamation under the Antiquites Act on February 19, 2015. The monument covers 21,604 acres of scenic and diverse natural resources along the upper Arkansas River of Colorado and encompasses both BLM and U.S. Forest Service (FS) lands.
Browns Canyon National Monument includes the Arkansas River Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA), the Browns Canyon Wilderness Study Area, the Browns Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), and U.S. Forest Service roadless areas. In addition, a portion of the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA), a cooperative management area along the Arkansas River administered by the FS, the BLM, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), is included.
The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service are developing the plan that will guide management of Browns Canyon National Monument for the foreseeable future. As part of the effort to solicit public input, the agencies will hold three public meetings in Salida, Buena Vista and Golden (Denver West). The meetings will start with a short presentation on the development of the BCNM Resource Management Plan. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and to submit comments on the management plan. The deadline to submit public comments is June 20.
Public Meetings:
June 3, in Salida, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the SteamPlant Event Center, 220 West Sackett Avenue
June 4, in Buena Vista, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center, 715 E Main Street
June 5, in Golden, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Marriott Denver West, 1717 Denver West Boulevard
To learn more about the plan and submit public comments, visit the BLM Planning Website.
As part of this process, the Friends of Browns Canyon organization has worked with numerous local stakeholders to facilitate the creations of a “Sustainable Alternative” plan that will support strong resource conservation values in the monument. Click here to learn more about the coalition’s “Sustainable Alternative” principles.
