GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Annual winter closures to motorized and mechanized vehicles will go into effect Dec. 1 on certain lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management’s Grand Junction Field Office to reduce stress on wintering wildlife and prevent road damage.
Seasonal gate closures occur annually from Dec. 1 to May 1 in multiple locations in Mesa and Montrose counties. All of the areas continue to be open to hiking and horseback riding.
The closure includes: Coal Canyon Road in the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Area, Blue Mesa, Beehive, Chalk Mountain, Grand Mesa Slopes at Horse Mountain, Sink Creek, Mesa Creek and Lands End roads. Also, roads branching from 16 Road will be closed at Garvey, Post and Lapham canyons. Maps for these closures are available online at: https://go.usa.gov/xnKnA
“We coordinate with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to identify areas that are important to wintering wildlife," said Wayne Werkmeister, acting BLM field manager. “These closures represent the most important habitats wildlife depends on to survive in a normal to severe winter. Please respect these closures to ensure healthy wildlife populations for the future."
People who use these BLM-managed lands in the winter can help reduce stress to wintering deer and elk by observing wildlife from a distance and keeping dogs under control, preferably leashed.
For more information, call the BLM Grand Junction Field Office, (970) 244-3000.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
