CANON CITY, Colo. - The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Royal Gorge Field Office will begin implementing supplementary rules for public lands at Guffey Gorge Jan. 19.
Guffey Gorge is a remote, 80-acre public land parcel in Park County surrounded by private land - a popular, scenic location for picnicking, hiking and swimming. In recent years, increased visitation to the area has caused a number of public safety and natural resource concerns.
“We worked closely with the public and our partners at Park County to develop a strategy that addresses these issues," said BLM Royal Gorge Field Manager Keith Berger. "As stewards for this unique area, we are committed to keeping Guffey Gorge healthy and productive."
The new rules prohibit possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages, parking motor vehicles outside designated parking areas, playing amplified music, and bringing an animal into the area without a leash.The rules implement decisions outlined in the 2015 Guffey Gorge Management Plan and are intended to reduce conflicts among users, public health and safety concerns, and reduce impacts to natural resources that have resulted from significant increases in visitation over the past five years.
Recreation on BLM Colorado-managed public lands generated $591 million and supported 4,827 jobs in Fiscal Year 2016.
To learn more about the rules, contact the Royal Gorge Field Office at (719) 269-8500, go to https://go.usa.gov/xnKWH or refer to the Dec. 20 Federal Register Notice at https://go.usa.gov/xnUvj.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
