https://www.usbr.gov/gp/nkao/nepa/draft ... ea_rmp.pdf

https://www.usbr.gov/gp/nkao/

Many of us likely commented earlier to the USBR on reopening the 3,800' airstrip at Bonny Reservoir in eastern CO now that the water is gone. That potential made it into 'Alternative A' in the PDF publication above. The TL;DR version: No-action means they basically leave the place as-is, remove a few things, and more or less just run it as a wildlife area. Alternative A includes repurposing some things, and opens the airfield back up. Alternative B is somewhere in the middle but with more of a wildlife focus, removes a lot of old structure, and would not include the airfield in the outcome. Obviously we all prefer Alternative A.

This is in a 30-day Q&A period now, with comments addressed in December and the final plan published in February. I don't know if there's anything left to be done or that RAF won't make a call for action if there is, but it's nice to at least have the potential for another dirt strip out here. Bonny is still a state wildlife area with hunting and other recreation opportunities, and has a campground or two attached, so the strip has potential to bring people in.

I remember landing out there with dad when I was a kid. Great to hear that this could come together.

I agree, Bonny Res would be a great recreational airstrip for the area. I'm excited to see it as a potential alternative as many of us here in CO have had our eyes on it for years.

The possibility of reopening the airstrip at Bonny Reservoir is really exciting. I'm sure that many of us on the Front Range and in KS, NE, WY etc. would value a backcountry flying resource that is east of the Rockies and presents some good recreational possibilities.

The Department of the Interior is hosting an open house in Wray, CO on December 5th at 6:00pm so that members of the public can interact with land managers and ask questions about the Bonny Reservoir project.

Weather permitting, I will be making the trip out to Wray. I think it could be beneficial if a number of pilots attend to express interest in the airstrip. If anybody else is able to make the meeting please reach out to me and we can coordinate plans.

That's awesome. I think getting pilots to that meeting to comment on how responsible use of the strip would encourage recreational access would definitely help. I have a conflict and can't make it, but hopefully this crowd can make a good showing.

This opportunity is bigger than just the airstrip frankly. As far as we know it would be the first formal strip included in a resource managment plan with the Bureau of Reclamation and also with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. By writing a 2 minute email stating you support "Alternative A" and the airstrip at Bonny Reservoir you could have a bigger impact for future strips. below is the direct email for the RMP.

[email protected]

Thanks!
Patrick

This strip is in my backyard. This is a great opportunity for new Backcountry pilots or pilots with lowered powered aircraft. The strip is a lower elevation strip with minor obstacles. If alternative A was chosen, hiking, camping, fishing, horse riding, ATV riding could all be options for pilots flying into this strip. The scenery isn't spectacular, but is still some of the best for the high plains of the US. (Trees, terrain, stream, wildlife)

Also, the locals are in full support of reopening this strip. Most were amazed that there would be interest in this strip. They want as much support to open Bonny. They, including me, have been trying to reopen Bonny since it was drained in 2011. Any and all help on this would be greatly appreciated.

Email sent, thanks for bringing it to our attention!

learntolandshort wrote:This opportunity is bigger than just the airstrip frankly. As far as we know it would be the first formal strip included in a resource managment plan with the Bureau of Reclamation and also with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. By writing a 2 minute email stating you support "Alternative A" and the airstrip at Bonny Reservoir you could have a bigger impact for future strips. below is the direct email for the RMP. [email protected] Thanks! Patrick

Just saw this discussed on the SC site.
Took me less than five minutes to peruse the draft management plan,
then email Bureau of Reclamation in support of alternative A and re-opening the strip.
Hope it happens.

In case folks have missed this, the RAF has posted a call to action for public comments on Bonny. https://theraf.org/news/2018/time-public-comments-bonnys-airfield-offers-eastern-co-recreation

Sending an email only takes a moment and could have a huge impact on the outcome of the resource management plan!

Email sent!

Sadly I have a work training the day of the meeting so I won't be able to attend like I had hoped.

Just like to remind everyone that the public meeting is this Wednesday, December 5th at 6:00 pm at the Wray City Hale.(245 W. 4th) The last day for public comment is on December 10th. Good news is that Nik Johanson with the Bureau of Reclamation has been impressed by the amount of comments from the pilot community. So, thanks to those who have made comments. Any additional comments will continue to encourage the Bureau to open this strip up to the public. Attendance at the meeting will make an even more powerful statement to the Bureau of Reclamation. I highly encourage anyone to come to the meeting.

How did the public meeting go?

colopilot wrote:How did the public meeting go?

We were really encouraged by how the meeting went. Everyone who wrote a comment really helped the cause and our message definitely got through to the agencies involved. There were about 20 people total at the meeting and 7 or 8 of those were pilots (three of us flew in from the Front Range). None of the other attendees voiced opposition to the airstrip, though some were bemused that people would want to fly their airplanes to the middle of nowhere to camp.

We should hear more about the future of the airstrip in 2019. Long story short, we are optimistic. Thank you again to everyone who commented in favor of the airstrip. The folks at Bureau of Reclamation and Colorado Parks and Wildlife were impressed by the breadth and respectfulness of the support that came from the pilot community.

If you forgot to comment or have something to add to what your wrote, send it in! Even though the official comment period is closed your message should still reach the people who are finalizing the Resource Management Plan.

Awesome! Glad to hear the comments worked in favor of aviation. I'm actually surprised nobody expressed opposition given some of the anti-aviation sentiment out there, but I suppose as long as it doesn't conflict with nearby homes it's probably a non-issue.

Thanks for showing up in person, please keep us posted if other public meetings related to this are scheduled.

I received the BLM's email today and read through the Resource Management Plan. Either I've become really, really foggy since retiring, or it's a really, really foggy document. I can't honestly tell if using the airfield is still going to be allowed, although there's nothing in there saying it won't. I think to make sure, anyone wanting to use it should get a definitive answer from the BLM in advance.

The RMP is available to view at https://usbr.gov/gp/nkao/nepa/final_bonny_ea_rmp.pdf

Cary

This letter that was sent out says a combination of alternatives A & B. Alternative A included airstrip reopening, alternative B did not.

Ok, I'm glad I wasn't the only one who couldn't actually tell what they decided. The only indication I saw around the airstrip was on the Bonny map, which did include the strip. Assuming that's the final outcome, it seems we may be all good there.

Let's all hope we can land there soon. That would we awsome.

Rob

The report seemed a bit vague in that regard, but as colopilot points out the airstrip does appear on the map. Perhaps if a few of us volunteered to go help recondition the runway it'd be a sign of good faith on our part.

I for one would be willing to haul my hay mower, blade, and tractor/backhoe out there from metro Denver for a weekend.

-PandaCub