BLM business plan for Paria Canyon-Coyote Buttes management still in the works

The Wave at Coyote Buttes North | St. George News

ST. GEORGE — In response to input received during public outreach the Bureau of Land Management is revising its proposed Paria Canyon-Coyote Buttes special management area business plan.

A large pool of water remains after a summer thunderstorm at Coyote Buttes North in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness area managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Utah and Arizona, circa 2012 | Photo courtesy of the BLM, St. George News
A large pool of water remains after a summer thunderstorm at Coyote Buttes North in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness area managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Utah and Arizona, circa 2012 | Photo courtesy of the BLM, St. George News

According to the BLM’s news release, the revised plan will be streamlined and focus on proposed fee adjustments – fees have not been adjusted since 2008 and would change for each of the units.

For the time being, permitting and access to the special management area (including Paria Canyon overnight; Coyote Buttes North, which includes the Wave; and Coyote Buttes South) will continue with business as usual.

The BLM Color Country District, Arizona Strip District and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument are coordinating efforts to revise the business plan.  Plan revisions should be completed by midsummer.

The BLM conducted extensive public outreach related to the proposed business plan dating back to 2013 when initial scoping was completed. Throughout 2014, the BLM held coordination meetings with Kane County Tourism Bureau, Kane County Commission and local outfitters.

In 2015, BLM continued coordination meetings with Kane County Commission, Kane County Tourism Bureau, Coconino County Board of Supervisors, Page, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and the BLM Recreation Resource Advisory Council and provided information to stakeholders through email and post cards announcing the public comment period which began July 15, 2015, then extended to October 16, 2015.

More information and resources on the Paria Canyon-Coyote Buttes Special Recreation Area are available through the BLM Arizona Strip Field Office website.

Bizarre sandstone landforms dot the landscape in Coyote Buttes South in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness area managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Utah and Arizona, circa 2012 | Photo courtesy of the BLM, St. George News
Bizarre sandstone landforms dot the landscape in Coyote Buttes South in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness area managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Utah and Arizona, circa 2012 | Photo courtesy of the BLM, St. George News

 

About the BLM

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2014, the BLM generated $5.2 billion in receipts from public lands.

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