Establishment of the Chimney Rock National Monument

President Obama established the Chimney Rock National Monument in southwestern Colorado under the Antiquities Act, protecting approximately 4,726 acres of federal land containing significant Ancestral Pueblo archaeological, astronomical, and cultural resources. The proclamation withdraws the lands from development and assigns management to the Secretary of Agriculture through the Forest Service, with requirements for a management plan within 3 years and protections for tribal access.

Federal Register Open PDF 77 FR 59275

Impact dates

Sep 21, 2015
Management plan due for monument

Key directives

Establish Chimney Rock National Monument on ~4,726 acres
Withdraw lands from all forms of entry, location, sale, leasing, mining, and mineral/geothermal leasing
Secretary of Agriculture to manage through Forest Service
Prepare management plan within 3 years
Prepare transportation plan with road closures and travel restrictions
Limit motorized/mechanized vehicle use to designated roads
Consult with Secretary of Interior on management plans
Protect tribal access for cultural, spiritual, and food/medicine-gathering purposes
Continue existing grazing permits/leases under Forest Service policies
Allow timber harvest and prescribed fire only for wildfire, insect, or disease risks

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

National monument designation takes effect
Federal lands withdrawn from entry, location, sale, leasing, mining, and mineral/geothermal disposition
Motorized/mechanized vehicle use restricted to designated roads

Near term (90d)

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Long term

Management plan due within 3 years of proclamation (September 21, 2015)
Transportation plan to address road closures and travel restrictions
Ongoing tribal consultation in plan development

Risks & tensions

Potential conflict between conservation mandates and existing oil/gas lease development
Tribal access protections qualified by 'to the maximum extent permitted by law' and 'consistent with purposes of the monument'
Tension between public access for tourism and protection of archaeological resources
Forest Service vs. Interior Department jurisdictional boundary preserved