The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests announces the decision for the Blue Lakes Visitor Use Management Plan, setting new guidelines for managing visitor use across 16,200 acres on the Ouray Ranger District.
“We are excited to reach this point,” said Dana Gardunio, Ouray District Ranger. “The plan has been years in the making, with extensive community involvement, and we have finally arrived at a decision that will protect these beloved areas while ensuring sustainable, high quality recreational experiences for the future.”
The plan will be implemented in phases as resources allow. The first phase, expected to start in 2025, involves reconstructing the
Blue Lakes Trailhead parking area and installing two new vault restrooms using funding from the Great American Outdoors Act. The Forest Service will also begin developing a monitoring plan and gathering data to establish designated camping areas.
The second phase will involve working with Recreation.gov to develop a permit system for the area. From June 1 through September 30, permits will be required for access with a daily limit of 40 individuals for day-use and 24 individuals for overnight-use (four sites with up to six people per site). The permit system may be implemented as early as 2026. The Forest Service is planning an outreach campaign with partners to inform visitors about the new system before they arrive.
Other management changes include designated camping throughout the planning area, requirements to pack out human waste in the Mt. Sneffels and Wilderness zones, the prohibition of dogs in the Mt. Sneffels zone and a prohibition of overnight stock use in the Wilderness zone. While the plan sets the direction for these changes, the Forest Service will be implementing official Forest Orders and signing the areas when these actions are finalized.
Concerns about visitor spillover into adjacent zones without permits were raised during the comment period. The adaptive management plan includes measures to address potential visitor impacts across all management zones. For example, if visitor numbers or impacts in adjacent areas become a concern, the permit system could be expanded to include those areas, such as the Blaine Basin or Mt. Sneffels zones.
“Concerns were raised that a limited-entry permit may create unwanted impacts in adjacent areas,” said Gardunio. “The beauty of using an adaptive management strategy is that it’s an iterative process that gives us flexibility to address unforeseen future challenges.”
While adoption of this plan is a crucial first step in addressing the impacts occurring in these areas, effective implementation and stewardship of this area in the future will require additional resources. The Forest Service will likely pursue authorization through the Federal Land Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) that would propose a fee for enhanced management needs. Once authorized, any permit fees collected would be retained by the Ouray Ranger District and reinvested into local projects such as natural resource restoration, education, outreach and resource monitoring. A separate public process would be required for any new or increased FLREA fees.
For a detailed list of management actions by zone and more information on the Blue Lakes Visitor Use Management Plan, visit the project webpage:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/gmug/?project=61979.
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