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The Projects page shows current and proposed projects on the San Juan National Forest for watershed restoration, habitat improvement, recreation sites, timber sales, roads, and more. Projects on the San Juan National Forest follow guidelines under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This act was signed into law on January 1, 1970.
Each national forest and grassland are governed by a management plan in accordance with the National Forest Management Act (NFMA). These plans set management, protection, and use goals and guidelines. Monitoring conditions on a forest or grassland ensures projects are done in accordance with plan direction and determines effects that might require a change in the management plan. Scroll down to view current & recent projects.
Metallic Minerals La Plata Project
Metallic Minerals has a planned mineral exploration project in the La Plata Mountains. They currently have an approved Plan of Operations for limited exploration that was authorized following public comment under a Categorical Exclusion on January 5, 2023. To date, Metallic Minerals has not started mineral exploration on any of the sites authorized under the decision. In 2026 Metallic Minerals submitted a draft amendment, reducing the number of drill pads and adjusting plan operations. Per 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1b.9(r), U.S. Forest Service resource specialists are currently reevaluating the 2023 Categorical Exclusion Decision Memo to determine whether correction, revision, or supplementation is required.
Note: Not all proposed projects may appear on the map. See the list below for a more complete list.
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San Juan National Forest
The Forest Service follows NEPA regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Under this rule, Forest Service officials determine which proposed projects are shared for public input.
The agency no longer issues a schedule of proposed actions (SOPA) report. Below is the current list of proposed projects available for review—your opportunity to learn more, share feedback, and stay engaged in decisions that shape the future of our public lands.
Relocation of a pasture boundary fence to better distribute cattle and improve vegetation resources. Project actions involve construction of 0.25 miles of fence in a new location, and removal of 0.4 miles of existing fence.
Construct a new non-motorized trail segment that bypasses a rocky step section of trail, and designate a second route that is used but is not part of the Forest Service trail system
Supplemental analysis of control line construction using bladed equipment, such as skid steers with bladed attachments, masticators with dozer attachments, and type 2 (medium) and 3 (light) dozers.
Install a 2,788' long, 6" natural gas pipeline adjacent to an existing waterline in a prevously disturbed corridor. Amend existing permit as apprpriate.
Process application for exploratory core sampling to determine mineral potential in the area. ~14 drill sites located in Bedrock Creek (La Plata Canyon, Columbine RD) and headwaters of East Mancos River (Dolores RD). Some sites accessed by helicopter
Construction of a pipeline on FS, state, and private lands; construction of 1 new gas well pad and access road on FS land; and re-completion of 2 existing gas wells located on FS. The wells would be drilled with horizontal drilling techniques.
Special Use Road Permit DOL644 will establish access to a private land inholding off of Forest Service Road 556. The access road has been in use for many years, and the new permit will bring the access road into compliance and to Forest Service standards.
Improve core value of the RMRI across the project landscape related to recreation. Proposed Actions could include trails, allowable uses, parking, trailhead facilities, winter uses, dispersed camping, and ADA opportunities.
Removal of hazardous vegetation to the operation of the powerline. Removal of vegetation would reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire on federal lands and adjacent at-risk communities.
