State and Federal Land Management Planning
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) applies to “every major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment” (42 U.S.C. § 4332(1)(C)). NEPA requires that agencies undertake an environmental analysis to determine whether a federal action has the potential to cause significant environmental effects. If a proposed major federal action is determined to significantly affect the quality of the human environment, Federal agencies are required to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS),a more detailed and rigorous than the requirements for an Environmental Assessment (EA).
Land and species management plans
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National (GMUG) Forest Plan
To download or view mapping of BLM lands, visit the USFS Geospatial Data Discovery page.
Mesa County projects with Cooperating Agency involvement
Project Name: Uncompahgre Field Office RMP Amendment
NEPA Number: DOI-BLM-CO-S050-2023-0032-RMP-EIS
Project Type: RMP Amendment - Environmental Impact Statement
NEPA Status: In Progress - Analysis & Document Preparation
Lead Office: Uncompahgre Field Office
Summary: The BLM is initiating an RMP amendment for the Uncompahgre Field Office (UFO) as part of settlement agreements that resolved litigation to the 2020 UFO Approved RMP. Per the settlement agreements, the BLM will consider decisions on oil and gas leasing, ACECs, and lands with wilderness characteristics. All documents, including previous plans and mapping data related to the BLM's Uncompahgre Field Office RMP Amendment are available on the BLM's eplanning website.
Engagement Level: Mesa County is a Cooperating Agency per Memorandum of Understanding.
Interested in providing feedback to Mesa County? Please email us at rmp@mesacounty.us
Not related to the Dolores Canyons National Monument or National Conservation Area discussion.
**NOTICE: April 4, 2025 - The BLM is changing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) status of the Dolores Travel Management Plan (TMP) on ePlanning to CANCELLED. The CANCELLED status is necessary to allow the BLM to balance agency priorities and associated workloads, incorporate input from incoming agency leadership, and re-engage with cooperating agencies. The BLM is cognizant of its responsibilities under the 2017 Settlement Agreement in Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, et al. v. U.S. Department of the Interior, et al. and will continue working on a variety of non-NEPA tasks associated with the development of the Dolores TMP. Future NEPA actions such as public input and review pertaining to the Dolores TMP will be completed under a different NEPA number.**
Project Name: Dolores Travel Management Plan
NEPA Number: DOI-BLM-UT-Y010-2024-0029-EA
Project Type: Environmental Assessment
NEPA Status: In Progress - Analysis & Document Preparation
Lead Office: Moab Field Office
Summary: The BLM Moab Field Office is proposing to evaluate and designate routes with the Dolores Travel Management Area to develop an OHV travel route network. The Dolores Travel Management Plan would designate a comprehensive travel network of motorized routes and trails by evaluating each routes purpose and need. The Bureau of Land Management's Dolores River Travel Management Plan in eastern Utah is a standalone action that is unrelated to the on-going discussion about protection of the Dolores River Canyon area in eastern Colorado. All documents, including previous plans and mapping data related to the BLM's Dolores Travel Management Plan are available on the BLM's eplanning website.
Engagement Level: Mesa County is a Cooperating Agency per Memorandum of Understanding.
Interested in providing feedback to Mesa County? Please email us at rmp@mesacounty.us
Project Name: Manti- La Sal Forest Plan Revision
Project Type: Forest Plan Revision and Environmental Impact Statement
NEPA Status: In Progress - Pending Final EIS
Lead Office: Manti- La Sal National Forest
Summary: Forest plans are legally required documents that establish broad, long-range, general management direction to maintain or achieve desired conditions. Together, desired conditions and objectives describe what actions Forest Service managers intend to implement across the Manti-La Sal landscape while still providing sustainable usage by individuals and communities. As forest and community needs change, forest plans should be amended or revised to respond to these changes and incorporate the latest scientific knowledge and understanding of land management. The current forest plan was completed in 1986. All documents, including previous plans and mapping data related to the USFS's Manti- La Sal Forest Plan Revision are available on the USFS Forest Plan Revision website.
Engagement Level: Mesa County is reviewing and providing comments.
Interested in providing feedback to Mesa County? Please email us at rmp@mesacounty.us
Other active land management projects
US Forest Service Roadless Rule Rescission
NOTE: The Colorado Rule is not being considered in this process.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is initiating an environmental impact statement (EIS) and rulemaking concerning management of inventoried roadless areas on approximately 44.7 million acres of National Forest System lands, including in Alaska. The proposed rule would rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (2001 Roadless Rule) (66 FR 3244, 36 CFR Subpart B (2001)), which prohibits road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting in inventoried roadless areas, with limited exceptions. State-specific roadless rules for Idaho and Colorado at 36 CFR 294 Subparts C and D will be retained and are excluded from this notice. Rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule is intended to return decision making for road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting in inventoried roadless areas to local officials, in conjunction with Forest-level land management planning. As directed by Executive Order 14153: Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential, the proposed rule will expressly exclude the Tongass National Forest from the 2001 Roadless Rule.
Comments are due by Sep 19, 2025 at 11:59 PM EDT
Read the press release here.
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BLM Colorado March 2026 Oil & Gas Lease Sale
DOI-BLM-CO-0000-2025-0007-EA
Parcels specific to this sale may also be viewed on the BLM Colorado Interactive Map.
For additional information on leasing in Colorado, visit the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission. All regulations specific to oil and gas activities Colorado are available online.
Comments are due by October 2, 2025 at 11:59 MST.
CO December 2025 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale
DOI-BLM-CO-0000-2025-0002-EA
Parcels specific to this sale may also be viewed on the BLM Colorado Interactive Map. (Open the Layer List menu and check the box next to Oil and Gas Lease Sale- 2025 Quarter 4)
For additional information on leasing in Colorado, visit the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission. All regulations specific to oil and gas activities Colorado are available online.
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Colorado Department of Water Resources-Division 4 Measurement Rules Rulemaking
The Division of Water Resources (DWR) has focused on measurement rules in recognition of the importance of measuring both surface water and groundwater diversions. We are now conducting a formal effort to develop measurement rules in Division 4 (Division 4 includes the Gunnison River basin, San Miguel River basin, lower reaches of the Dolores River basin, and the Little Dolores River basin). Measuring surface water and groundwater diversions is important in Colorado to allow for accurate administration of water rights, establish a valuable record of use for water rights, and provide useful information for operating decisions.
Colorado water law requires that water diversions have a proper diversion structure and measuring device where necessary. Measurement Rules will give guidance, structure, and certainty to the Division Engineer’s implementation of that statutory requirement, which is critical in areas that are experiencing more demand, intrastate administration, and the need to protect Colorado interests related to the Colorado River Compact.
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife 2026 Strategic Plan
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is developing a new 10-year strategic plan to guide its work from 2026 to 2036. CPW is working in close collaboration with consultants Prosono and The Equity Project to gather input from staff, stakeholders, the public and tribal partners.
CPW's current Strategic Plan was adopted in 2015. While this plan has guided the agency’s efforts well since then, it's no surprise that the world has changed significantly in 10 years. CPW’s 2026 Strategic Plan will serve as a roadmap to address current and future challenges and opportunities, enhance service to the public, and strengthen the agency’s commitment to stewardship of parks and wildlife resources balanced with outdoor recreation opportunities.
The comment form is designed to gather insights on how the public and partners understand and interact with CPW to help create a roadmap that addresses current and future challenges and opportunities. Approval of the new strategic plan by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission is anticipated in June 2026.
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Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species Status With Section 4(d) Rule for Monarch Butterfly and Designation of Critical Habitat
Docket No. FWS-R3-ES-2024-0137
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus), as a threatened species and designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) with protective regulations under section 4(d) of the Act (a “4(d) rule”). They also propose to designate approximately 4,395 acres (1,778 hectares) in Alameda, Marin, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and Ventura Counties, California, critical habitat for the monarch butterfly under the Act. Included in the listing it an economic analysis of the proposed designation of critical habitat for the monarch butterfly.
For additional information on lor to provide comments, visit the Federal Register listing. Information about the Monarch Butterfly, including its range, is available on the US Fish and Wildlife Service's ECOS website.
Make your voice heard
While we encourage residents to engage with state and federal agencies by submitting questions and comments and attending meetings we also welcome comments, maps and data, historical information and anything that you feel would strengthen comments by the Board of County Commissioners. We appreciate your help in ensuring Mesa County's voice is heard in these processes.
Interested in providing feedback to Mesa County? Please email us at rmp@mesacounty.us.
*Please note, comments sent to Mesa County will not be forwarded to the planning agency, nor will comments submitted to the County give you legal standing in the federal or state planning process. You must submit comments as directed in each planning process for legal standing.
For tips on participating and submitting substantive comments, check out these resources:
Here are some more places that you can stay up-to-date on federal actions