County comments on projects regarding the Manti-La Sal National Forests

On Aug. 23, Mesa County Commissioners approved a letter to the US Forest Service regarding the Manti-La Sal National Forests Hydrologic Function Rehabilitation and Restoration projects.

The proposed project is located within the Manti-La Sal National Forest on the Moab and Monticello Ranger Districts within Grand, San Juan, Mesa, and Montrose counties.

The Manti-La Sal National Forests’ Land & Resource Management Plan identifies the forest-wide plan components of watershed health as one of the primary drivers of management actions. 

The proposed actions will be open for implementation on all NFS lands, specifically to the following features: springs, streams, wetlands, and uplands within the Moab & Monticello Districts. Anthropogenic systems such as canals and ditches will be within the exclusion zone for any proposed treatments. Areas with conflicting water rights and special uses will be avoided.

The letter states:

“Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Manti-La Sal National Forest SZ Hydrologic

Function Rehabilitation and Restoration project. Watershed health affects all aspects of forest

management, intersecting activities from grazing and recreation to wildlife, vegetative

management and harvesting timber, fuels reduction and more. These watersheds are essential to communities across the West and Mesa County appreciates the US Forest Service (“USFS”)

working toward improved function of these important areas. We offer the following comments on

the proposed project:

Water Rights and Infrastructure Access

Design Feature #14 states: Forest will obtain a temporary water right if installing Beaver Damn

Analogs (“BDA”). We understand this to be a requirement only for project in Utah. Mesa County

does not support the USFS acquiring water rights in Colorado, temporary or otherwise, for this

Project.

Further, motorized and mechanical access to the forest is necessary for safe operation and

maintenance of water facilities. There is a finite window of time between snowmelt and snowfall

and access, maintenance, and operation of water system infrastructure must be accomplished

efficiently within that window. While anthropogenic systems are identified as exclusion zones in

the Location section of the Project Details, it is imperative that access for maintenance,

improvements, and operation of water systems infrastructure be maintained and unobstructed.

Early and Frequent Communication with Permittees

Design Feature measures identify the possibility of excluding cattle for 2-3 years post-BDA

installation, adjusting livestock re-entry points, and installation of grazing exclusion fencing. As

identified in the Mesa County Resource Management Plan (“RMP”), “Permitted grazing on federal lands is a critical piece of livestock operations in Mesa County.”1

 Mesa County encourages the USFS to establish thorough and consistent communication with all permittees affected throughout this project.

Road Maintenance

As road and trail repair is identified in the Proposed Actions, we ask that you contact the Mesa

County Road and Bridge Department should any work be required in the road right-of-way. We

would like to also reiterate the importance of maintaining access to roads and trails for forest users. In the event that a road or trail is considered for temporary closure for repair work, the USFS should conduct a thorough public outreach campaign and coordinate with the affected local governments.

Consistency Review

For projects identified in Mesa County, we ask that the Mesa County Resource Management Plan (“MCRMP”) be reviewed for consistency. The MCRMP is available online at

https://www.mesacounty.us/globalassets/planning/codes-plans-policies--

standards/plans/resource-management-plan/mesacounty_rmp_11.17.2020.pdf

Thank you for your consideration of these comments. Please contact Mesa County at 970-244-

1800 if we may be of assistance in these efforts.”