MDF Projects

Grand Mesa Big Game Security Habitat Improvement Project

Several organizations are coming together to provide funding to complete physical closure of unauthorized travel routes on Grand Mesa as part of the implementation of the new Grand Mesa Travel Plans. This area involves 100,000 acres on Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest near Grand Mesa, Colo.

Organizations involved include:

• CDOW-HPP
• RMEF
• USFS
• SCI
• MDF

This project involves closing unauthorized roads (created by ATVs) on national forest of the Colorado Grand Mesa. The total project cost is anticipated to be $41,000 and should be completed by Spring 2007.

MDF funds came from the national organization, as well as from the Chapter Rewards of the Mile High Chapter and the Wal-Mart Conservation Partnership with the store in Wheat Ridge, Colo. MDF dollars will specifically be used to pay for the physical closing of the unauthorized roads, including bull dozing, re-vegetation, and informational signs. By reducing unauthorized motorized travel, the goal is to keep big game animals on national forest and reduce the overgrazing affect on lower land winter range.

As a result of the unauthorized use of these roads, game animals are pushed to private ground/wintering range prematurely, hence vegetation on winter range is suffering. In addition, this should reduce the amount of game damage complaints by private land owners and increase the game available for recreational viewing and hunting.