But the Bureau of Land Management, in approving the OHV event permits, spurned a draft environmental assessment that called for up to eight such events yearly.
The first event, a Jeep jamboree, is scheduled for this weekend.
Sandy Meyers, field manager of the BLM's Monticello Field Office, said Friday that scaling back the proposal was largely done in a bid to bring opposing factions to the table to discuss the future of motorized uses in the canyon.
"We could have approved eight events; it probably wouldn't have any more impact than two events given how closely these things are guided and monitored. But we're trying to get some consensus as far as a general management plan goes," Meyers said.
"This allows the two groups that applied for permits to stage their events, and it provides a chance to pull together a working group and look at the issues."
The primary source of contention is the vast, and still largely unsurveyed, number of tribal artifacts found in the canyon - and the impacts heavy OHV use might have on them - as well as riparian and other habitat issues.
BLM and San Juan County officials have argued that a large majority of the archeological sites are located well away from the canyon road where off-roaders travel. But the sheer number of non-inventoried sites has caused alarm among the tribes, archeologists and environmental groups.
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, a former Navajo tribal councilman and a local outfitter recently petitioned the BLM to prohibit motorized uses in the canyon. The BLM rejected the petition, but said the petitioners were welcome to participate in the stakeholder process.
Liz Thomas, a SUWA attorney based in Moab, called this week's decision by the agency a partial victory for those seeking to keep OHVs out of the canyon, but said the ruling is still controversial.
"There are thousands of miles of dirt roads in southeastern Utah that would be much more appropriate for motorized vehicle events, but BLM appears to be caving into local political pressure," she said in a statement.
jbaird@sltrib.com
"This allows the two groups that applied for permits to stage their events, and it provides a chance to pull together a working group and look at the issues."
SANDY MEYERS
BLM Monticello Field Office
