Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Hosts Open Houses for Draft Plan
October 23-25
The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA) invites the public to attend an upcoming open house for an opportunity to provide written input on the AHRA Draft Management Plan and Environmental Assessment, which is co-managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
This plan will provide the framework for managing numerous recreational activities along the 152-mile Arkansas river corridor, as well as other key issues, including boating capacities, management of fisheries and wildlife habitat, and public river access and facilities. This plan is incorporating a comprehensive review of environmental, recreational, and cultural resources, as well as public input.
Scoping for this plan began in 2016, where key issues were identified and helped shape the draft outlines of four alternatives for future management of the Upper Arkansas River corridor.
Public comments for the AHRA Draft Plan can me made until November 10.
More information for the plan and a public comment form can be found at http://cpw.state.co.us/ahra-plan. AHRA Recreation Area can be contacted at 719-539-7289.
AHRA Open House Info
October 23, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
CPW Southeast Regional Office
4255 Sinton Road
Colorado Springs
October 24, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
BLM Royal Gorge Field Office
3028 E. Main St.
Cañon City
October 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Buena Vista Community Center
715 E. Main St.
Buena Vista
Arkansas River in Browns Canyon National Monument. Photo John Sztukowski.
Colorado Wilderness Gathering
Friday, October 27 - Sunday October 29 Palisade Community Center - Palisade, CO
You are invited! Join Colorado's conservation community for a two-day workshop to celebrate wilderness and wild lands and to learn how you can get involved. Now more than ever, our collective leadership and voice is needed to protect the places we love. It’s time to come together as public land conservation advocates to learn from each other, discuss current campaigns, and brainstorm pathways to effective change.
Deepen your connection to wildlands issues
Advance your skills in advocacy and grassroots strategies
Celebrate past successes while planning for future conservation efforts
Inspire and get inspired from fellow conservation leaders
Advancing awareness of equity, inclusion, and justice in the outdoors
The Wilderness Gathering will be fun and engaging and include speakers, presentations, panels, breakout sessions, and place-based hikes. The 2017 Wilderness Gathering is hosted by a number of Colorado’s conservation organizations, including Colorado Mountain Club, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Conservation Colorado, The Sierra Club, and WildConnections.
Below the Sangre de Cristos and the Wet Mountain Valley, Grape Creek carves its winding way through a scenic canyon of forest and rock formations.
This moderately strenuous, in-and-out trail hike covers six miles while gaining 600 feet elevation. Learn about the future of the proposed Wilderness and surrounding BLM Lands with Wilderness Characteristics. There will be stream-side hiking with several stream crossings, so bring sturdy boots and stream crossing footwear, clothes appropriate for the weather forecast, water, snacks, and usual dayhike essentials.
This trip is sponsored by Pikes Peak Group Sierra Club, Wild Connections, and Central Colorado Wilderness Coalition. Maximum 15 participants. For more trip and carpool information and to register, contact John Stansfield, 303-660-5849 or email jorcstan@juno.com by 5:00 PM, Friday, November 3.
Trip Participant Registration Information
If you sign up on a website, please also register with the trip leader for trip details and carpool information. If you are unable to participate after registering, please notify the trip leader. Others from a waiting list may want take your place on our size-limited trips.
Wild Connections 2168 Pheasant Place, Colorado Springs CO 80909 info@wildconnections.org
