The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has finalized a supplementary rule to regulate activities on public lands within the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, impacting Dolores County and Montezuma County in Colorado.
The rule implements decisions from the 2010 Resource Management Plan (RMP) to protect natural and cultural resources in the area.
Key changes in Dolores County include restrictions on recreational activities such as hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, which are now limited to designated travel routes within the Sand Canyon-Rock Creek Special Recreation Management Area.
Camping is prohibited within 300 feet of riparian areas, developed recreation sites, and certain sensitive areas to protect wildlife and archaeological sites.
Recreational target shooting is banned to prevent damage to archaeological sites, although hunting with a valid Colorado license is still permitted.
Geocaching and rock climbing are restricted to prevent harm to archaeological objects and nesting raptors.
The rule aims to balance recreational use with the preservation of the Monument's significant archaeological and natural resources.
The Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) new rules also impact Montezuma County, alongside Dolores County, by regulating activities on public lands within the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.
In Montezuma County, the rules enforce travel management restrictions, limiting mechanized and motorized vehicles to designated routes to preserve the area's wilderness characteristics.
Specific prohibitions are in place within Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) in Montezuma County to maintain the natural and cultural integrity of these regions.
The rules are designed to protect the high density of archaeological sites found throughout the monument, ensuring that recreational use does not compromise these valuable resources.
To view the original document on the Federal Register, click here.
