Updated on June 6, 2014 –
Community Members Submit Detailed Version of North Fork Alternative Plan to BLM.
Community members and public lands stakeholders submitted a detailed version of the North Fork Alternative Plan to the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office in Dec. 2013. Click here to read the full press release.
The complete document and appendices are available for download via Dropbox.
For a brief summary of the North Fork Alternative Plan, you can read the Executive Summary and Conclusion here (6 pages).
For a one page North Fork Alternative Plan – By the Numbers Fact Sheet click here.
For a one page overview of the final management recommendations click here.
Background Information–Documents Previously Submitted to BLM, Media Coverage, & Letters to the Editor.
The North Fork Alternative Plan — A Community-Based Proposal for Managing BLM Oil and Gas Development in the North Fork and Smith Fork Watersheds.
Since July 2012, Citizens for a Healthy Community has worked with stakeholders representing organic growers, wineries, ranching, businesses, and the Western Slope Conservation Center to develop a community supported alternative for the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office’s upcoming Resource Management Plan revision.
The early word from the BLM is that the draft plan, due out in spring or summer 2013, is surely going to miss the mark on needed protections for the North Fork’s public lands from risky oil and gas development.
The goal of the North Fork Alternative Plan is to propose a strong, resource-based management framework for oil and gas leasing for BLM lands and federal minerals in order to protect the North Fork’s unique features and important resources.
Click here to sign the petition to show your support for the North Fork Alternative Plan!
- Click here to view the North Fork Alternative Plan Vision
- Click here to view the North Fork Alternative Plan Management Rationale
- Click here to view the North Fork Alternative Plan Management Zones & Setbacks Overview
- Click here to view Frequently Asked Questions about the North Fork Alternative Plan
- Click here to view a Description of Maps that illustrate proposed management areas
The idea to provide BLM with more specific management direction as part of that public agency’s revision of its decades old land use plan for this area came out of this community’s response to an agency oil and gas leasing proposal in December 2011, which we have now twice defeated.
Like the North Fork Alternative Plan page on Facebook for up-to-date info!
The alternative plan sets out to adapt existing BLM management tools to the North Fork, and to craft a framework for oil and gas leasing and development that is highly protective of the North Fork’s important features and resources. To learn more about the North Fork Alternative Plan, click on the links in the list of documents below.
ECOFLIGHT North Fork Valley Colorado from Hutman Media on Vimeo.
Media Coverage of the North Fork Alternative Plan
June 4, 2014 – Delta County Independent – Letter to the Editor – “Alternative plan protects North Fork resources”
May 29, 2014 – KVNF Local Motion – “North Fork Representatives Travel to DC to Thank BLM, Elected Officials”
May 5, 2014 – KVNF – “BLM delays draft of Resource Management Plan for North Fork; advocates of Alternative Plan prepare for DC trip”
April 11, 2014 – Delta County Independent – Letter to the Editor – “Legislative protection is appropriate for the North Fork”
January 29, 2014 – High Country News – “BLM considers grassroots land use plan that would limit drilling in western Colorado”
January 2014 – Montrose Mirror – “Past, Future Meet in the North Fork Valley”
December 18, 2013 – Delta County Independent – Letter to the Editor – “Alternative plan protects Crawford”
December 13, 2013 – Montrose Daily Press – “Many hands in North Fork plan”
December 12, 2013 – Aspen Daily News – “New plan would limit gas drilling in ‘bread basket’ of Western Slope”
December 5, 2013 – Merchant Herald – “North Fork submits Community-based Management Plan to the BLM”
December 5, 2013 – KVNF Morning Newscast – “Finalized North Fork Alternative Plan Submitted to BLM”
December 4, 2013 – Telluride Watch – “North Fork Stakeholders Lauding BLM’s Inclusion of Alternative Plan”
November 14, 2013 – KVNF Morning Newscast – “North Fork Coalition Presents Limited Drilling Plan to County Commissioners”
November 13, 2013 – Colorado Independent – “Feds weigh no-drilling plan for North Fork public lands”
November 8, 2013 – Montrose Daily Press – “BLM to consider alternate North Fork plan”
November 6, 2013 – Delta County Independent – “BLM will include North Fork Alternative Plan in its draft RMP”
November 6, 2013 – Merchant Herald – “Local Stakeholders Applaud Inclusion of North Fork Alternative Plan in BLM Plan Revision”
November 6, 2013 – Delta County Independent: Letter to the Editor – “Alternative plan protects farms, communities”
November 4, 2013 – KVNF Morning Newscast – “BLM Says It Will Consider Input from North Fork Valley for Uncompaghre Resource Management Plan”
November 2, 2013 – Grand Junction Daily Sentinel – “BLM to look at North Fork drilling proposal”
October 30, 2013 – Merchant Herald – “Gas Development Opponents Organize for Release of BLM Resource Management Plan”
October 30, 2013 – Delta County Independent: Letter to the Editor – “Alternative plan protects North Fork’s valuable resources” from Alison Gannett
October 28, 2013 – BLM Press Release – “BLM Incorporating Additional Analysis into Draft Uncompahgre Resource Management Plan”
August 21, 2013 – Delta County Independent – “Crawford council okays two letters of support”
August 18, 2013 – Grand Junction Daily Sentinel – “Determining acceptable level of risk in fracking is the key” from Michael McCarthy
July 31, 2013 – Delta County Independent – “Proponents still seek Crawford’s support”
July 17, 2013 – Delta County Independent – “Sen. Bennet meets with NF alternative plan advocates”
July 17, 2013 – Delta County Independent – “Crawford to rethink support for North Fork alternative plan”
July 3, 2013 – Delta County Independent: Letter to the Editor – “Don’t gamble away our rural lifestyle” from Tom Stevens
July 3, 2013 – Delta County Independent: Letter to the Editor – “Don’t jeopardize the future of the North Fork Valley” from John VanDenBerg
June 25, 2013 – KVNF Community Radio – “North Fork delegation travels to Washington DC”
June 12, 2013 – Delta County Independent: Letter to the Editor – “Alternative plan written to protect resources” from Landon Deane
June 5, 2013 – Colorado Public Radio – “Fracking and Wine… A Bad Blend?
May 29, 2013 – Delta County Independent: Letter to the Editor – “Drilling will hurt more than help” from Brad Burritt
May 15, 2013 – Delta County Independent: Letter to the Editor – “Alternative would protect Crawford’s way of life” from Christie Young
May 15, 2013 – Delta County Independent: Letter to the Editor – “BLM urged to do it right this time” from Dave Jacobson
May 14, 2013 – KVNF – “Fly-over Stresses Importance of Alternative Oil & Gas Plan”
May 12, 2013 – Grand Junction Daily Sentinel Guest Op-Ed – “North Fork Alternative Plan would protect special place from drilling”
May 8, 2013 – Delta County Independent: Letter to the Editor – “Community urged to unite behind NF alternative” from Stephen Gulick
May 1, 2013 – Delta County Independent: Letter to the Editor – “Help preserve the North Fork for future generations”
May 1, 2013 – – Delta County Independent: “Paonia asked to support North Fork alternative plan”
April 26, 2013 – Delta County Independent: Letter to the Editor – “Oil/gas industry threatens rural lifestyle” from Todd Sheets
April 17, 2013 – Delta County Independent: Letter to the Editor – “North Fork residents, let your voices be heard” from Joyce C. George
April 17, 2013 – Delta County Independent: Letter to the Editor – “Make the North Fork Alternative Plan a reality” from Rob Ziegler
April 17, 2013 – Delta County Independent: Letter to the Editor – “Alternative plan protects the North Fork Valley” from Randy Campbell
April 11, 2013 – KVNF Interview with Brent Helleckson, Stone Cottage Cellars & West Elks American Viticultural Area
April 10, 2013 – Delta County Independent: Letter to the Editor – “Support the North Fork Alternative Plan” from Brent Helleckson
April 4, 2013 –Letter to the Editor – “Support sought for the North Fork Alternative Plan” from Mark Waltermire, Thistle Whistle Farms and Valley Organic Growers Association
April 3, 2013 – Delta County Independent: “North Fork Alternative Plan is released”
April 2, 2013 – KVNF Interview with Brent Helleckson, Stone Cottage Cellars & West Elks American Viticultural Area
December 27, 2012 – Delta County Independent: “Rancher worries about valley’s future”
North Fork Alternative Plan Documents
Vision for the North Fork Alternative Plan (PDF), March 26, 2013
Proposed Management Zones and Rationale Overview (PDF), March 26, 2013
North Fork Alternative Plan Management Zones & Setbacks Overview (PDF), April 2, 2013
Frequently Asked Questions (PDF), March 26, 2013
Letter from Stakeholders to BLM (PDF), Feb. 26, 2013
North Fork Community Alternative Plan for Oil and Gas Leasing and Development (PDF), Feb. 26, 2013
North Fork Alternative Plan Vision Outline (PDF), December 4, 2012
Letters of Support
Maps*
Description of Maps that illustrate proposed management areas (PDF), April 2, 2013
Project Area Map (JPEG), July 2013
Maps depicting proposed management zone and special resource designations:
Mining & Agriculture Management Zone (JPEG), July 2013
Towns, Schools & Community Management Zone (JPEG), May 2013
Clean & Dependable Water Supply Management Zone (JPEG), July 2013
Riparian Areas & River Corridors Management Zone (JPEG), July 2013
Wildlife Management Zone (JPEG), July 2013
Landscape Management Zone (JPEG), July 2013
Jumbo Mountain Special Recreation Management Area (JPEG), May 2013
Proposed Visual Resources Management (JPEG), July 2013
Maps depicting location of specific resources:
Agriculture & Community Map (PDF), March 26, 2013
Water Supplies Map (PDF), March 26, 2013
*Note: maps are intended for illustrative and educational purposes only.
Photo credit: Bruce Gordon, EcoFlight.
One Comment