ST. GEORGE -The St. George Field Office is preparing a Wilderness Management Plan for the Cottonwood Canyon and Red Mountain Wilderness areas in Washington County, Utah.   The two areas were designated as wilderness by Congress, through the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009.  The public is invited to a scoping workshop to learn more about the two wilderness areas and identify issues that should be considered in the Wilderness Management Plan.  Public input could address issues such as wildland fire management, scientific research, educational opportunities, and commercial activities.

The scoping workshop is scheduled for April 19, 2011 at the Dixie Center in St. George, UT, from 6-8 p.m.   It will be an open house format and resource specialists from the St. George Field Office will be available to answer questions.  The public can provide written comments at the scoping workshop and can also submit them by mail or email through May 20, 2011.

The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 designated 14 new BLM-managed wilderness areas in Washington County, Utah, including the Cottonwood Canyon and Red Mountain Wilderness areas.  Wilderness areas are managed to protect their undeveloped, natural character, outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation for future generations.  Motorized and mechanized vehicle travel is not allowed in wilderness areas without special authorization from BLM.

For more information http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/st__george/blm_special_areas/national_landscape/wilderness.html