Forest Planning in Colorado

American Whitewater is closely involved with Colorado’s National Forest Planning efforts. Nearly 68% of Colorado’s forests are Federally owned and managed as public land by the Forest Service (USFS) (47%), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) (17%), and the National Park Service (NPS) (2%)(CSU, 2018). Public land management plans dictate regulations on resource extraction, development, grazing, public use restrictions, wildlife habitat, and federal river protections, among other aspects. While the majority of public land in Colorado is managed by either the Forest Service or the BLM, the revision process and public review process differs between the agencies and necessitates a different strategic approach. This is largely due to the fact that these two federal agencies are managed by two different U.S. Departments; the Department of Agriculture manages the USFS and the Department of the Interior manages the BLM. American Whitewater works with both agencies, however many of our current projects are through the USFS.

Many of Colorado’s rivers and creeks flow through National Forests and are directly impacted by their management actions; these management actions directly impact water quality, river access, and primitive recreation areas. Every 15 to 30 years, the USFS is required to revise their Management Plans and they are held to a stringent public input process. American Whitewater, in partnership with local and national organizations, such as Outdoor Alliance, works rigorously within the public input process to secure better protections for rivers and their surrounding environments. The Forest Planning Process is also one of the primary opportunities for incorporating additional river segments into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, affording maximum federal protections for generations to come. Through public outreach, data analysis, and strategic communications, American Whitewater aims to amplify your voice as a paddler and ensure that non-motorized boating opportunities and environmental health are prioritized in all current and future Forest Planning efforts.

We are currently involved in numerous Forest Planning initiatives around the State, including in the Grand Mesa Uncompahgre Gunnison Nat’l Forests, Pike and San Isabel Nat’l Forests, and the Rio Grande Nat’l Forest. Please follow the Associated News links to the right to learn more about our efforts in specific Forest Planning initiatives.