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Canyons of the Ancients and BLM report: monument events, trespass horses and new BLM supplementary rules taking effect
Summary
Canyons of the Ancients staff thanked the county for a right‑of‑way MOU, reported a luminary event and work to remove trespass horses; BLM staff said supplementary rules and resource‑management amendments took effect and noted enforcement changes for off‑trail mountain biking.
Ray O’Neil, monument manager for Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, told commissioners the monument had completed a memorandum of understanding for a right of way to access the Lamb House and that a recent luminary event drew large local attendance.
O’Neil said the luminary event had about 500 visitors passing through the visitor center and courtyard and that the monument expects to begin gathering trespass horses in January in cooperation with the Ute Mountain Ute Scribe; he estimated roughly 200 horses on monument lands.
BLM staff reported that wildlife restrictions are in effect from Dec. 1 through April 30 in several areas (Summit Ridge, Chutes and Ladders, and the Aqueduct trail system near Mancos). They said the Gunnison Sage‑Grouse and big‑game resource management plan amendments have been finalized and signed and that implementation meetings are planned with state partners.
Staff also said that BLM supplementary rules (to permit enforcement of travel‑management decisions and related rulemaking) were approved by headquarters and will be published in the Federal Register. The rules give field offices enforcement authority in places where prior enforcement mechanisms were limited; staff said possession of a mountain bike off designated trail is now an enforceable violation under the supplementary rules and that some trail users have raised concerns after the public comment period closed.
BLM staff said work to install aqueduct‑trail signage and delineate parking at J Point 0.8 had been completed with county cooperation and that those signs have helped to resolve conflicts over parking and trail access.
