What is the Travel Management Plan?

Travel Management is the process used by United States Federal Land Management Agencies to set policy regarding travel on public lands. The Bureau of Land Management has completed the Arkansas River TMP, which is addressing travel on BLM lands along the Arkansas River Corridor from east of Cañon City to the Browns Canyon area north of Salida. Prior to the implementation of this plan, travel policy was open travel, which implies that any mode of travel was allowed anyplace on the land managed by BLM within the plan area. Now that the plan has been implemented, the travel policy is designated routes. Official routes have been designated, and the types of travel allowed on each has been set. Mechanized travel off those routes is now prohibited.

How was Salida Mountain Trails involved in the Arkansas River TMP?

When the planning process started in 2004, Salida Mountain Trails formed as a group and created a plan for a new trail system to be built on public land surrounding Salida. We asked that BLM evaluate this plan during its planning process. The result was that our plan was actually written into the Arkansas River TMP. Now that the plan has been implemented, large portions of our proposed trail system are approved to be built.

We could use your help financially. We are a chapter under the Arkansas River Trust, a 501(c)3 organization, which means that your contribution is tax deductable. If you can afford to help, please send your check made out to Salida Mountain Trails in the memo field to:

Arkansas River Trust
332 1/2 W Sackett
Salida, CO 81201