Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Lands topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
BLM reports prescribed burns, Phil's World reroutes complete; fiber‑optic ROW work nearing completion
Summary
BLM staff told commissioners prescribed burns and trail reroutes tied to cultural‑resource compliance were completed this summer, and a right‑of‑way for the CLEAR Works fiber project should finish this week, enabling upcoming fiber installation.
A Bureau of Land Management (BLM) representative updated Montezuma County commissioners on recent public‑lands activity: prescribed burns, trail reroutes to comply with historic‑preservation requirements, and progress on a right‑of‑way for a fiber‑optic line.
The BLM advised that reroutes at Phil's World — work required to comply with Section 106 and State Historic Preservation Office findings — were completed this summer, faster than initially expected, and that signage explaining the reroutes was posted for users who had complained about lost access. The BLM estimated the reroutes removed approximately one mile of previously available motorized route but said complaints had subsided after signage was posted.
On the region's fire season, the BLM reported several small incidents and two notable starts on private land that were contained before crossing onto BLM property (Yellowjacket ~50 acres; Dolores Rim ~150 acres). The agency also reported it had conducted prescribed burning this season (roughly 370 acres on Dolores Rim and additional planned burns in La Plata County) and had about 5,000 acres of restoration work contracted for the year.
BLM staff confirmed they had been working with a contractor to complete a right‑of‑way (ROW) for CLEAR Works' proposed fiber‑optic line; the ROW package was expected to be complete by the end of the week, enabling fiber installation work slated to begin in September/October.
No county action was requested; the BLM asked the county to continue coordination on trail use notices and on planned prescribed burning.
