January 14, 2013
Norwood Park and Recreation District has been working with the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office on a proposal to build some trails on BLM land a few miles southwest of Norwood in an area known as Burn Canyon.
In 2011-2012, Norwood Park and Recreation District received several travel planning grants through a BLM Assistance Agreement which allowed NPRD to hire a recreation planner/contractor (Sparrow Consulting, LLC) for the travel management planning process. To date, NPRD has hosted a public informative meeting to introduce the conceptual trail plan, hired a professional trail planner (Singletrack Trails) to complete corridor field flagging of the proposed routes, worked with the BLM and held two public scoping periods to gain feedback from the public on the project, and hired an archaeologist (Urraca Archaeological Services) to begin cultural surveys in the planning area. These surveys are required under NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) and will continue in 2013. Biological surveys will also be conducted as part of the travel planning process and will hopefully begin in 2013. The next step will be for the BLM to develop several alternatives and begin the route-by-route analysis on the travel management plan. BLM will have another 30-day comment period once the draft EA is prepared and before a final decision record is signed. This process will hopefully be complete in 2013. Watch our website or the BLM NEPA website for updates.
NPRD also received a planning grant from CO State Parks Trails Grant in 2012. Funds from this grant will help fund our project coordinator, trail planning efforts, a trails website and brochure, signs and supplies.
