Citing concerns about impacts to soils, vegetation, scenic quality, and wilderness values, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today that it is increasing enforcement of existing OHV travel restrictions for the Westwater Canyon Wilderness Study Area (WSA). Westwater Canyon, located south of Interstate-70 and just west of the Utah / Colorado border in Grand County, was designated as a WSA in 1980.

Westwater Canyon is widely known for its outstanding white water boating opportunities. The canyon rim lands in the 31,160 acre WSA also provide excellent opportunities for hiking, hunting, and viewing the remarkable geologic features of the area.

"It's the area along the north rim of the Colorado River that we are concerned about," stated Maggie Wyatt, BLM's Field Manager in Moab. "Recently, we have seen an increase in motorized travel off the traditional access routes. BLM is required by law to protect the wilderness values of Westwater Canyon until Congress determines whether it should be designated as a Wilderness Area. Every bill proposing wilderness designation for BLM lands in Utah in recent years has included Westwater Canyon," said Wyatt.

Wyatt also stated that "Westwater Canyon is one of the region's economic engines. Every year over 12,000 people float through the canyon. Wilderness values are an important part of the experience."

Under the BLM's Interim Management Policy for Lands Under Wilderness Review, BLM may allow motorized and mountain bike travel to continue on vehicle ways that were identified during the wilderness inventory as long as the impacts of such travel do not impair the area's suitability for wilderness designation.

"In the Westwater rims area, riders and drivers need to stay on the inventoried routes. To help educate visitors about this requirement, we are placing information boards at key locations and clearly marking the routes where travel is allowed. This season, our Westwater Ranger Staff will also be contacting visitors to help clarify the situation," stated Wyatt.

"We cannot allow riding and driving off the inventoried routes. Cutting corners along the marked routes, making parallel routes, extending routes, or riding cross country are all unacceptable. We will be closely monitoring the situation. If these actions don't work, we will have to take further protective measures," concluded Wyatt.

Wyatt added that BLM will be stepping up educational efforts and working with user groups to encourage voluntary compliance.

"Moab Field Office's action in the Westwater area continues our efforts to better manage OHVs," said BLM's Utah State Director Sally Wisely. "Our goal is to protect the public lands while providing opportunities for OHV use."

The public lands administered by the Moab Field Office are widely known for their combination of spectacular red-rock scenery and challenging trails. Trails used by motorized and non-motorized recreation visitors, and the world-class scenery they access, are an important part of the area's recreation driven economy. For the Moab area, BLM seeks to work with all interested parties to complete balanced access and trail management planning to help maintain a sound economy, provide a range of recreation opportunities, and protect the public land values that make the area special.

The Moab Field Office is emphasizing its 'Trails Not Tracks' education program which recognizes the value of trails and seeks to eliminate the proliferation of off-route recreation vehicle tracks. Visitors will be seeing information boards at major entry points that show examples of trails in good condition and areas where the public lands have been damaged by cross-country use.

Travel maps will be available from the Moab Field Office at 82 East Dogwood, Moab, UT 84532 (435) 259-2100 and the Utah BLM State Office Public Room, 324 South State, 4th Floor in Salt Lake City. Travel maps may be viewed and downloaded from the Moab Field Office website at http://www.blm.gov/utah/moab. 

Contact: Suzanne Garcia

Created by Utah Bureau of  Land Management
Last Updated:  March 17, 2005

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