BLM Shooting Closure by The Salt Lake Tribune on Scribd
The Bureau of Land Management will close 2,000 acres to target shooting under a new plan to manage this popular activity on public lands west of Utah Lake and curb abuses that threaten public safety, litter the landscape with "trigger trash" and mar ancient rock art.
Areas identified for closure were sharply reduced in the final plan released Thursday, which targeted only areas necessary for protecting public safety and petroglyphs left by Fremont Indians centuries ago.
Though the closures could be viewed as another federal action that limits personal liberty and what people can do on public lands, Utah County leaders and state lands administrators are endorsing the measures the BLM developed over the past two years in close consultation with local leaders and residents.
"As a cooperating partner with the BLM, SITLA, and Saratoga Springs — along with input from the rock art community and the target shooting community — I believe the negotiated plan represents the best possible solution for protecting Utah County's cultural resources and ensuring the health, safety and well-being of those who live and recreate in the Eastern Lake Mountains area," Utah County Commissioner Bill Lee said.
Thousands of people visit this area every year to hone their shooting skills in an outdoor setting. But some bring appliances, televisions, vehicles and paint cans — and other objects gathering dust in garages — to blast to smithereens and leave behind. Others use trees and rocks as targets. Damage became so severe that the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, or SITLA, closed some of its land to all public access. This agency manages several sections in the area, on the east slope of Lake Mountains rising off Utah Lake.
The new plan will help protect these trust lands, administered to raise revenue for Utah schools, but it was important for the public to have a say if the plan is to succeed, according to SITLA's deputy director, Kim Christy.
"Curbing resource and public safety problems resulting from undisciplined target shooting hinges on public support and compliance with these necessary changes," Christy said. "Because trust lands are significantly intermixed with public lands in this area, SITLA is pleased to partner in this effort."
The scope of closures in the final plan is significantly reduced from the 3,450 acres BLM had proposed in April, when it released a draft environmental assessment.
"There are a lot of intense feelings on both sides between the rock art folks, shooting community and county commission. We did a lot of dickering over what was important and wasn't, so we carved out everything that wasn't a public safety and petroglyph issue," said the BLM's West Desert district manager, Kevin Oliver. A compromise was necessary to ensure community support and respect for the new rules, aspects that will minimize enforcement hassles for BLM and Utah County sheriff's deputies.
"With buy-in, it wouldn't have been worth time and effort," Oliver said.
The final version still would establish restricted areas that go far beyond the 900 acres that have been subject to an emergency closure near State Route 68 in 2012. The BLM acted after shots were crossing the highway and in a few instances triggering wildfires.
"We call it a long-term closure but we have to move through the governor's consistency review and a 30-day protest period. Once we clear those hurdles, BLM can more forward," Oliver said. He noted that 7.5 million acres of public land in the West Desert remain open to target shooting. The plan released Thursday does not affect hunting or general public access.
In a related move, the BLM has deeded 160 acres to the county for developed shooting range.
Now that people can roam the closed areas without fear of getting shot, Oliver hopes BLM can soon initiate plans to provide trails, parking areas and signs to help the public enjoy the hundreds of petroglyphs carved into the rocks here.
"It is not unreasonable to think we'll reach a point where school kids can get off the bus and take a hike to the rock art," Oliver said.
Brian Maffly covers public lands for The Salt Lake Tribune. Brian Maffly can be reached at bmaffly@sltrib.com or 801-257-8713. Twitter: @brianmaffly
Brian Maffly | The Salt Lake Tribune Bekee Hotzee, who manages BLMÕs Salt Lake field office, examines plastic fencing target shooters leaned against a tree as a target.
Brian Maffly | The Salt Lake Tribune Mike Sheehan, a BLM archaeologist, describes ancient petroglyphs at UtahÕs Lake Mountains that have been damaged by gunfire.
Brian Maffly | The Salt Lake Tribune Mike Sheehan, a BLM archaeologist, describes ancient petroglyphs at UtahÕs Lake Mountains that have been damaged by gunfire.
Brian Maffly | The Salt Lake Tribune BLMÕs Teresa Rigby displays slugs that have struck rock art panels at UtahÕs Lake Mountains.
Brian Maffly | The Salt Lake Tribune A man, who identified himself as Tony, takes aim at paper targets with a 9mm handgun on public lands west of Utah Lake. The Bureau of Land Management has initiated a public process to revise a management plan on a 9,000-acre area on the Lake Mountains to help curb impacts associated with target shooting, including dumping, damage to ancient rock art, wildland fire, and threats to public safety. Stray bullets are known to have crossed State Route 68 and to have struck cows and a residence.
Brian Maffly | The Salt Lake Tribune Signs are preferred targets at UtahÕs Lake Mountains where problems associated with shooting have prompted BLM to craft a new management plans for this area.
Brian Maffly | The Salt Lake Tribune Shotgun casings litter a shooting area at UtahÕs Lake Mountains, where the BLM has began crafting a new plan to manage target shooting.