San Rafael Swell Travel Management Plan Resources

UPLA submitted 3 sets of comments, accompanied by route reports from several users on the San Rafael Swell. Click Here is you’d like to view the reports

BLM Released the Draft EA on June 6, and it is now open for public comments until July 22, 2024. Here’s a simple 3 Step process to submit comments on the routes you value most:

Step 1: Lookup the BLM Report on Your Trail Just click to open the file folder with all 2123 route reports, you can then use the Search at the top of the page to find the one you’re looking for.

 

  • Review the report and think about the following list. You don’t need to try to comment on all of them, if everybody just hits on a few, that will really help.
    • If you cannot find the trail you have used, describe the details of why you haven’t been able to find it in the BLM inventory. Were there no route markers posted on the trail? Have you had trouble identifying it on the interactive map? If you have a gpx track of the trail, indicate that you are willing to provide it but could not upload it because of the file type restrictions on the Participate Now link, and ask them how to get the file to them.
    • Is the report inaccurate, inadequate or incomplete in some respect? Detail what’s wrong in the report, and be sure to reference the information in the route report. What’s wrong or missing in BLMs report. Is the route shown in the right place? Does it provide connectivity to other routes that are not shown in the route report? Are there any uses for the route that BLM did not show, i.e. hunting, fishing, rock hounding, equestrian, mountain biking, etc. What unique features does the route lead to, scenic overlooks, campsites, hikes, or unique obstacles help to show how the route shows a purpose or need. Are there route or interpretational signs on the route? Are the vehicle use types correctly described in the report? If the route is commonly used by groups or in published guidebooks, be specific and describe how.
    • Have you ever done maintenance or other activities on the route? What have you done, how often, and when? Has your group offered to perform work that BLM did not approve or respond to? Be specific.
    • Suggest alternatives to the closure. If there was a resource impact you’re questioning, ask them what alternatives they considered to keep it open, i.e. rerouting, maintenance, interpretational signing, seasonal closures. Ask for more information about any specific concern BLM felt they could not address by any method other than closure. Are the vehicle types described in the report accurate?
    • If you have photos showing evidence of any of the above, attach them
    • Click here for an in depth article about more suggestions for submitting comments that can make a substantial difference in the outcome.

Step 2: Submit Your Comments before July 22 to the BLM here. Be Patient, you must wait 10-15 few seconds until you see    on the Page, then Click on that.

Step 3: Once you submit your comments, it will take you to a Receipt Page that shows your comments. Click on the Download PDF of your comments and email copies to landuse@utahpla.com AND brc@sharetrails.org.  Keep a copy for your records.

Here are some other resources for you to consider.

UPLA’s Suggestions on Possible Items to include in Your Comments

BLM EPlanning Page for the San Rafael Swell

UPLA Articles

UPLA Article with Links to All Utah Travel Management Planning Information

AZ Backroads Preliminary Map Alternatives-Planning Your Trips

San Rafael Swell Arcgis Map from Jim Brewer, GIS/OHV Consultant- THIS IS OUR BEST INTERACTIVE MAP 4/1/2024

                  Map Created and Donated by Western Expanse Inventory & Cartography 

Youtube Video Demonstrating UPLA SRS Swell Map Features and Functions

BLM Resources

 

Route Inventory Maps by Area  2/21/2021

Preliminary Alternatives Maps A B C D 02/22/2024

Swell Interactive Map (Dated 2/1/2021

Swell Route Reports 02/22/2024 (Most reports are from 2020 or earlier, but most current available)

Swell Google Earth Preliminary Alternatives Map

PLPCO Resources

PLPCO Swell Map of Open and Closed in Alt B and Comment Tool

Other Resources

BlueRibbon Coalition Podcast

Patrick McKay Colorado Offroad Trail Defenders Facebook Overview

So What Do We Need To Do Now?

  1. Select an Area that has routes that are marked on the map as targeted for closure. Write down the route numbers.
  2. Go to the BLM Route Report, refer to the link above. You can use the Search Bar on the webpage to find the Route Report for your trail, generally it will be about 4 pages long. Print it out, and try to understand what their resource concerns are. How do you determine what things mean in the Route Report? Google should be able to give you answers to abbreviations in the report. For example, I googled “What is PFYC Class 5?” and “What are abbreviation T E S T in BLM route reports for negative impacts” and it gave me all the answers.
  3. Schedule time to go out and run the trail. Take your route report. Look for areas or conditions mentioned in the Route Report. Take photos along the route, especially noting any possible resource impacts they may have cited and think about alternatives when you’re on the trail.
  4. When you get home, use TrailSaver to draft your substantive comments on the route. Be as specific as you can. 2 or 3 paragraphs on a route is an ideal length, include photos and gpx tracks. Videos are not recommended because of the large file size. If Archeological or Paleontology is listed, you won’t get a specific answer as to where that concern is located, but you can ask questions about possible mitigations around the concern such as rerouting the trail, informational signing, barriers to narrow trail to prevent stopping, etc. It is ok to mention how long you’ve been using the trail, with whom, etc, but this should be like the dessert to your meal, not the main course.
  5. TrailSaver will email you a formatted draft of your report. You can edit, add to it or change it. When the BLM comment period opens, TrailSaver will send you another email with your report and more suggestions, along with instructions on how to submit reports to BLM.

Summary When you look at the comments required for one route, it seems like a lot, but when put in the scope of things, it might take you 20-30 minutes to write a good comment. Compare that to the fun you had running the trail, the people you enjoyed the company of on the trail, the overnight camping you did, and being able to enjoy this trail for generations to come and I hope you’ll agree it’s a good investment of your time. Please do your research and get out there and help save our trails!

We Need Your Support to Make This Come Together, please help!

www.TrailSaver.com