ALAMOSA, Colo. – The U.S. Forest Service and National Forest Foundation (NFF) will hold a public meeting in Alamosa to discuss and receive public input for the Rio Grande National Forest’s plan revision. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 9, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the San Luis Valley Museum, 401 Hunt Avenue in Alamosa.
 
The primary purpose of the meeting will be to discuss how to preserve cultural and historic resources, and provide cultural and historic learning opportunities on the forest. Forest service staff are also interested to learn about traditional cultural uses of forest resources.
 
There will be an open house for the first half hour allowing the opportunity to view maps and engage in one-on-one discussion with RGNF staff. Starting at 5:30 p.m., there will be short presentations by forest service staff and a panel of local experts, followed by interactive discussions designed to provide input to the forest service. Light refreshments will be provided.
 
The forest plan is the overarching document that guides all management decisions and activities on the entire Rio Grande National Forest, including activities such as preservation of cultural and historic resources, grazing, timber production, recreation, wildlife management, firewood cutting and gathering of special forest products.
 
The forest plan revision is expected to be completed by the autumn of 2017. There will be several more public meetings throughout the process, but this will be the only one focused on cultural and historic resources during the assessment phase of the forest plan revision.
 
The NFF – the Forest Service’s congressionally chartered nonprofit partner – is organizing the public collaboration process for the revision of the forest plan and will be facilitating this meeting.
 
For more information, visit the RGNF plan revision website at http://riograndeplanning.mindmixer.com/ or contact Mike Blakeman at the SLV Public Lands Center, 719-852-5941.