Posted on September 2, 2024
The Bureau of Land Management’s Royal Gorge Field Office has issued a decision on the expansion of the Hard Rock Paving and Redi-Mix sand and gravel pit in Salida. The proposed expansion boundaries overlap a popular recreational trail in the area. The decision follows several months of discussions with members of the community, city leadership, and Chaffee County’s board of commissioners.
The BLM will allow for a partial expansion – one that will extend the lifespan of the mine for an additional 30 years, while also avoiding a relocation of the Solstice Mountain Bike Flow Trail. This course of action places limits on acreage disturbance and establishes a 30-foot buffer zone, where a visual barrier will be installed between the mine boundary and the trail.
“The competing needs placed on public land mean our decisions must be built on compromise. To do that, we sought an accurate understanding of each party’s needs,” said Doug Mayes, the Royal Gorge Field Office manager. “We believe this decision best honors our mandate to manage for multiple uses.”
For more information, please visit the decision page on the BLM’s ePlanning website.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
