Sixteen new sections of public land in Southwest Colorado are proposed for designation as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern by the Bureau of Land Management’s Tres Rios office in Dolores.

Officials are seeking comment on the proposal, which includes re-analyzing two such areas. In all, the proposal covers 130,000 acres in Montezuma, Dolores, San Miguel, San Juan and Montrose counties.

Critical environmental concern areas need special management attention to protect and prevent irreparable damage to important historic, cultural and scenic values; fish, wildlife resources or other natural systems or processes; or to protect human life and safety from natural hazards. The areas do not receive additional funding.

“We are considering these areas for special features such as occupied Gunnison sage-grouse habitat, archaeological sites, rare plants, alpine tundra and paleontological sites,” said Tres Rios field manager Connie Clementson.

Many of the nominated areas being evaluated are on the Lower Dolores River basin, including 650 acres of Coyote Wash, 12,000 acres in the Dolores River Canyon, 3,600 acres in the Slick Rock area, 24,000 acres in the Snaggletooth section, 3,000 acres in McIntyre Canyon, 700 acres at Livey’s Pocket and 700 acres at Muleshoe Bench.

Other local areas proposed for the critical environmental concern designation include 1,300 acres at the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park; 2,700 acres in Disappointment Valley; 25,500 acres in Spring Creek Basin area, where there is a herd of wild horses; 4,000 acres at Northdale near Dove Creek; and 35,000 acres at Dry Creek Basin.

On BLM land near Silverton, the areas of Cinnamon Pass, Cement Creek and Lake Como are proposed for inclusion.

An area of Anasazi culture at Mud Springs (1,200 acres) and the Big and Little Gypsum Valleys (13,200 acres) are designated as critical environmental concern areas, and they are being re-evaluated.

Congress mandated that the BLM consider designating such areas through the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.

“After the public scoping, the BLM will review the comments and develop an environmental assessment,” said Shannon Borders, BLM public information officer. “If designated as an ACEC, the BLM determines what management prescriptions are necessary to protect the relevant and important values.”

Learn more, comment

To learn more about Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, go to Appendix U of the Tres Rios Resource Management plan at http://on.doi.gov/1QKmCfO.

Comments should be received by April 4. Written comments should be directed to the BLM, Attn. Gina Jones, 2465 S. Townsend, Montrose, CO 81401, or submitted electronically to blm_co_trfo_acec@blm.gov