Browns Canyon
National Monument

Monument Management

Browns Canyon National Monument is jointly managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (9,750 acres) and the U.S. Forest Service (11,836 acres). However, the river corridor through BLM land, including whitewater boating, is managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) as part of the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA).

In April 2019, the BLM and Forest Service released preliminary proposals for managing the national monument. Friends of Browns Canyon formed a coalition with 25 local and regional conservation and recreation organizations to evaluate and respond to these preliminary proposals.

After multiple meetings, online polls and email communications, the coalition developed the Sustainable Alternative – a set of recommendations based on the consensus of all coalition member organizations. Once the Sustainable Alternative was finalized, we garnered support from more than 100 additional organizations and businesses, including Chaffee County, the City of Salida, the Town of Buena Vista and the Heart of the Rockies Chamber of Commerce, which represents over 500 local businesses.

Friends of Browns Canyon submitted the Sustainable Alternative to the BLM and Forest Service during a preliminary public comment period as part of the management planning process. The agencies then completed the Draft BCNM RMP, initiating another public comment period. Thanks to comments demonstrating broad-based support for the Sustainable Alternative, almost all Friends of Browns Canyon recommendations were incorporated into the Final RMP and will serve to protect the priceless natural and cultural resources of this national monument for future generations.

On July 27, 2020, the two federal agencies issued Records of Decision approving the BCNM Resource Management Plan (RMP), which delineates how the monument is managed.

Since the Final RMP was adopted, Friends of Browns Canyon has formalized its partnership with the BLM and Forest Service to support stewardship, education and conservation efforts in the national monument.