With a new plan in place to address increased visitation, overuse and resource damage on its public lands, the Bureau of Land Management began improvements at the Browns Grotto dispersed camping area near Hecla Junction this summer. 

Unmanaged use has resulted in a nearly bare parking lot with a lot of trash, as well as conflicts with a nearby homeowner. 

The response to these kinds of impacts is to create designated sites on the 38,000 acres managed by the BLM in Chaffee County. This means campers must choose a numbered site, which helps contain impacts to specific areas and works toward limiting trash and human waste. 

The next campsites to be addressed are in the Shavano area on County Road 250. Site posts will be installed to clearly mark sites, as well as the decommissioning of other sites. Camping on BLM land in the county remains free, on a first-come, first-served basis with a 14-day maximum stay.  

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Dan R

Danny “Dan R” Ridenour has been in radio and television broadcasting for over 40 years, starting as a senior in high school in Rogers, Arkansas. His radio career has had stops in Nashville, Memphis, Oklahoma, and eventually, Colorado. Dan enjoys being involved in the community, having been a member of the Upper Arkansas Service Club and is currently on the board of directors for the Salida Community Center and is a member of the Chaffee County Fair Committee. He and his wife Carrie spend their days doing everything the mountains have to offer: hiking, camping, fishing and skiing. They've raised 3 children and have 2 grandchildren.

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