Public Open House set for Hermosa Creek Special Management Area Plan

Release Date: Feb 18, 2015

The San Juan National Forest invites the public to an open house at the San Juan Public Lands Center Sonoran Rooms on Tuesday, March 3, 2015, to begin early discussions regarding the preparation of a management plan for the newly created Hermosa Creek Special Management Area (SMA). The public is invited to drop by the open house anytime from 5 to 7 p.m. Brief introductory remarks will be offered at 5 p.m. The Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection legislation, passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama in December, 2014, requires the U.S. Forest Service to complete a management plan within three years for the 70,000-acre+ Special Management Area. The management plan will serve as official guidance for the long-term protection and management of the Special Management Area.

San Juan National Forest staff will be on hand to offer information about the natural resources, features and current management issues in the SMA, including what the legislation states about management of summer and winter recreation, roadless areas, water, minerals and vegetation. Forest Service staff is interested in hearing the public’s thoughts and concerns about development of the management plan. Public input will be an important part of the plan’s development. The open house will begin the public scoping for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, which is required for preparation of the management plan. The Forest Service anticipates that a series of public meetings and field trips will be offered over the next year, with the release of a draft management plan for public review in early 2017, and a final management plan decision by December 2017.

For more information, contact Cam Hooley, 970 884-1414 or email:     HermosaSMA@fs.fed.us .