Recommendation of Lands Commission

After working mostly behind the scenes for nearly two years, the San Juan County Lands Council has created a recommendation for the San Juan County Commission.
The recommendation will be considered as the Commission works to find a county recommendation for the proposed Public Lands Initiative in the U.S. Congress.
The bill will be sponsored by Representatives Jason Chaffetz and Rob Bishop in attempt to settle long-standing disputes over federal land in Utah, including vast sections of land administered by the Bureau of Land Management.
If Congress is unable to make progress, President Barak Obama has threatened to use the Antiquities Act to unilaterally declare new national monuments. Obama is expected to designate a new national monument in Nevada in coming days.
Chaffetz and Bishop welcomed all parties to the table in an attempt to reach an agreement. San Juan County did the same.
The Lands Council includes a cross section of San Juan County residents who worked to create the recommendation. They considered a large number of options while eventually reaching a compromise recommendation.
Commissioners are expected to meet with constituents and hold a public hearing before making their final decision.
Commissioner Phil Lyman is chairman of the Lands Council, which includes Tim Chamberlain, Steve Deeter, Josh Ewing, Vaughn Hadenfeldt, Marie Holiday, Shaye Holiday, Brent Johansen, Mark Maryboy, Grayson Redd, Heidi Redd, Shane Shumway, Stefnee Turk, Todd Westcott and Chester Johnson.
Wilderness areas recommended by the group include portions of Behind the Rocks, Lower Indian Creek, Bridger Jack Mesa, Butler Wash, Cross Canyon, Dark Canyon, Cheesebox Canyon, Mancos Mesa, Cedar Mesa, Mule Canyon and Mikes Canyon.
Wilderness is, by definition, an area which appears to have been affected primarily by nature, where the evidence of man is substantially unnoticeable and is set aside to preserve its natural character.
Only Congress can designate wilderness. Wilderness areas are withdrawn from new mining claims and oil and gas leasing, livestock grazing shall continue, motorized and mechanical uses are prohibited and fuel wood gathering is not allowed.
In addition to the Wilderness recommendations, two large National Conservation Areas (NCAs) are also recommended. They included portions of Cedar Mesa and Indian Creek.
An NCA is an area designated by Congress to preserve, protect and restore nationally significant landscapes that have outstanding cultural, ecological and scientific values.
Theses areas are typically withdrawn from new mining claims and oil and gas leasing. Other traditional multiple uses are usually allowed if those uses are consistent with the conservation and protection of outstanding values in the area.
The map also contains roads from the San Juan County Travel Plan. Some of the roads are not included in the current travel plans of the managing federal agencies, including the Forest Service, BLM and National Park Service.
Also included is a proposded “recreation zone” in the Indian Creek area and an “energy zone” to designate areas of energy resource development.
An updated version of the map can be found here.
San Juan County also offers additional information about the recommendation and the Public Lands Council process at www.sanjuancounty.org/lands_bill.htm.

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