BLM seeking public opinion on Yuma East, Gila River Travel Management Plan  

Travel planning is needed to designate and provide access to and across public lands for uses

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Yuma Field Office announced it is asking the public for their opinion to inform the Yuma East / Gila River Travel Management Plan and associated environmental assessment.

According to BLM, the planning area covers about 700,684 acres of its managed public land in Yuma County.

Why travel management planning is needed?

BLM said this planning is needed to designate and provide appropriate access to and across public lands for uses such as recreation, hunting, grazing, mineral exploration, and energy development.

The planning will have three phases such as route inventory, route evaluation, and the development of the travel management plan.

According to BLM, on-the-ground inventory within the planning area was identified more than 1,250 miles of routes.

Public input information

“To provide information and receive public input on this route inventory within the Yuma East / Gila River Travel Management Planning Area, the BLM will host virtual public meetings,” said BLM Yuma Field Manager Ray Castro. “During the virtual public meetings, the BLM will present an overview of its travel planning process and the Yuma East / Gila River Travel Management Plan specifically.”

Individuals can view the maps of the inventoried routes on the project's National Environmental Policy Act Register page.

BLM is encouraging the public to take a look at the inventoried routes and make comments between January 22 and February 21.

There will be two virtual Zoom meetings that will give more information about the project and how to participate:

• Meeting 1: Tuesday, January 23 from 5 to 6:30 p.m., 
  (https://blm.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_5jRZ-CwHSZ-Kl4dQOxN6rg)  
• Meeting 2: Wednesday, January 24 from 5 to 6:30 p.m., (https://blm.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_7OUqQbApRpa584zsJbI-uw)  

Comments can be submitted in different ways: 

• Online via the “Participate Now” feature on the National NEPA Register. (ePlanning) https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2030434/510  
• Email to: AZ_YM_TRAILS@blm.gov  
• US Mail to: BLM Arizona State Office, ATTN: Yuma East / Gila River TMP, One North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, AZ 85004 

According to BLM, it plans to release the proposed travel management plan and environmental assessment for public review and comment by summer 2024.

They expect to issue the Decision Record by December 2024.