The Bureau of Land Management issued a Notice of Decision approving the Blue Valley Land Exchange, which will increase public access for fishing, hunting, and other recreation in Grand and Summit counties, Colorado. The decision authorizes the BLM to exchange nine parcels of Federal land totaling 1,489 acres in Grand County for nine parcels acres of non-Federal private land totaling 1,830 acres in Grand and Summit counties. 

“This exchange improves and increases public access for people of all abilities who wish to boat, hike, or drive to the Blue River and increases public hunting access along Trough Road,” said Acting Kremmling Field Manager Stephen Leonard. “We’ve coordinated closely with local governments, other agencies, and the public, and negotiated with the proponent to ensure that the land exchange benefits the public interest.” 

The exchange expands access along about a mile of the Blue River near its confluence with the Colorado River, plus an additional 1.66 miles of hike-in access to the Blue River that is currently inaccessible except by floating. The exchange consolidates public land and transfers small, isolated public land parcels that have little to no public access, and results in a net gain of 341 public land acres.