The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is pleased to announce that, after years of hard work and collaboration with other agencies and partners, the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office (UFO) Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) was signed on April 2, 2020. The Approved RMP will provide guidance for managing approximately 675,800 acres of BLM-administered public lands and 971,220 acres of federal mineral estate across Montrose, Gunnison, Ouray, Mesa, Delta, and San Miguel counties.

The Record of Decision (ROD) and Approved RMP were prepared in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. Approval of the ROD serves as the final decision for all land use planning and implementation decisions described in the Uncompahgre Approved RMP.

The BLM greatly appreciates all those who contributed to the Uncompahgre RMP planning effort, particularly members of the public who provided important feedback; our cooperating agencies, which included federal, state, and local governments; the Southwest Colorado Resource Advisory Council; and Native American Tribes.  The extensive public interest and involvement in this planning process ensured that the Approved RMP will sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of BLM-administered lands for present and future generations to use and enjoy.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office in Colorado has revised the BLM Uncompahgre Resource Management Plan (RMP) for over 675,000 acres of BLM-administered surface lands and 971,220 acres of federal mineral estate.

The Uncompahgre Planning Area includes lands in Delta, Gunnison, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel counties in southwestern Colorado.  It does not include the Gunnison Gorge or Dominguez-Escalante national conservation areas, which are managed under separate RMPs.

The Approved RMP replaces the Uncompahgre Basin RMP (1989) and applicable portions of the San Juan/San Miguel Planning Area RMP (1985).

An RMP details the current state of resources and guides management actions for the next twenty or so years under the BLM dual mandate of multiple use and sustained yield.