An open house and tour of the proposed land exchange between the Bureau of Land Management and Blue Valley Ranch will be Thursday and Friday in Kremmling. BLM officials will conduct an open house from 4-8 p.m. Thursday at the Kremmling Fairgrounds to explain details of the swap.
A tour of the properties will begin at 9 a.m. the next day at the agency office on U.S. 40 east of town. Tour participants should phone the office, 970-724-3000.
Grouse growing
The population of Gunnison sage grouse, a species of special concern, appears to have increased substantially, according to a survey conducted by the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
The agency estimated more than 4,000 birds currently live in the Gunnison Basin, up from 2,320 in 2004. This species, considered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for listing as a threatened species, cannot be hunted.
DOW listed the following estimation for other habitat areas: San Miguel Basin 334, Crawford 191, Pinon Mesa 142, Poncha Pass 44, Dove Creek 39 and Cerro Summit 25. Counts are made in April and early May at breeding sites where birds gather each year.
Elk meetings
A series of meetings to determine elk herd management on the White River Plateau and Bears Ears areas of northwest Colorado will begin Tuesday in Steamboat Springs.
Designed to obtain public opinion about management in Data Analysis Units E-2 and E-6, the sessions begin in the Division of Wildlife Steamboat office at 925 Weiss Drive.
They continue in Craig on Aug. 10 at the Shadow Mountain Building, 1055 County Road 7; in Glenwood Springs on Aug. 10 at Ramada Inn, 124 W. Sixth St. and in Meeker on Aug. 11 at the Fairfield Building, Third and Main. All begin at 7 p.m.
Meeting changed
The Division of Wildlife has rescheduled a meeting to discuss deer and elk management in the Wet Mountains to 7 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Rye Fire Station, Boulder and Main streets.
The dialogue includes game management units 69, 84, 86, 691 and 861. Comments also may be sent to the DOW at 600 Reservoir Road, Pueblo 81005.
