RESOURCE MANAGMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE CACHE CREEK PLACER MINING AREA - A GEOCORPS AND BLM COPRODUCTION

By definition, the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) mission is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. As a BLM resource specialist, it is vital to monitor the development of natural resources to meet public demand, while protecting those same resources for future generations. This balancing act can be very challenging, as it requires both the knowledge and understanding of land laws and regulations, Bureau policies, and the public and private sector interests. Hands-down, these skills were the most important things I developed during my GeoCorps internship.

In April 2012, I accepted a GeoCorps internship with the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office (RGFO) in Canon City, Colorado. At the RGFO, I worked in the Minerals Division, which is part of the Non- Renewable Resource Group. This Division is responsible for all Locatable and Salable mineral development within the field office.

One specific research project required working with an interdisciplinary team to develop a resource management strategy for the Cache Creek Placer Mining Area. This area was originally designated for recreation – a place for the general populous to gold pan in the Colorado Rockies. However, over the past five years, a drastic change has taken place. Spurred by a weak U.S. economy and an increase in gold prices, users came to Cache Creek to earn their living. This dramatic increase in population created user conflicts, along with damage to the area’s natural resources. The regularity of the occurrences prompted BLM to take a hard look at past and present activities in the area. Based on a review of BLM regulations, the RGFO determined that “mining” activities on the Cache Creek property should be limited to recreation level. This decision helped return Cache Creek to its intended recreational purpose, thus alleviating user conflicts and mitigating safety hazards.

My year with GeoCorps provided the foundation for my current full-time position as a BLM Geologist in Arizona. As a permanent employee, I continue to refine and build upon the many varied skills I learned as an intern. Moreover, I plan to continue to enhance my knowledge base through additional onsite job training, and other outside resources, so that I can best serve the American public throughout my career.