Forest Service News Release

Media Contact: Crystal Young

(719) 248-8970

crystal.young2@usda.gov

Input requested on Salida and Leadville Ranger Districts Dispersed Camping Management Plan

 SALIDA, Colo., March 04, 2021— The Salida and Leadville Ranger Districts of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands request public input to help shape potential strategies for managing vehicle-based dispersed camping on National Forest System lands in Chaffee, Freemont, Saguache, Park and Lake counties in Colorado.

Managers hope to maximize the quality and quantity of vehicle-based dispersed camping on the districts while minimizing the effects of this activity on natural resources, Bureau of Land Management lands, non-public lands and other forest users.

“The growing desire for public land use brings increased pressure on forest resources, an uptick in user conflicts and a rise in human-caused wildfire occurrences,” said Salida Ranger District Recreation Program Manager Ben Lara. “The extensive, unplanned development of camping spurs is causing resource damage and diminishing the experiences of visitors, including campers, on our public lands.”

The districts are gathering ideas to identify areas where they should concentrate planning efforts, consider other opportunities for dispersed camping, explore potential strategies for management, and shape a thorough and efficient analysis for any proposed actions. Inputs that specifically address the who, what, where, when, why, and how of a suggestion are encouraged. This feedback will help inform public scoping and the initiation of an environmental assessment for vehicle-based dispersed camping management on the Salida and Leadville Ranger Districts projected for the summer of 2022.

The districts will receive public input through April 4, 2022. Interested parties may sign up to receive updates on the project through the project website which will provide alerts to anticipated formal comment periods. 

To learn more about the project, visit the Dispersed Camping Management Project StoryMap. To provide written input and upload documents, visit the project website and select the “Comment/Object on Project” link.