PART IV 



THE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM 



INTRODUCTION 



This section includes management actions for 

 the trails. These are specific actions for individual 

 trail segments and historic sites. These actions 

 are those which the BLM will implement in the 

 short term, prior to 1991. All of these actions are 

 an extension of the Oregon/Mormon Trail General 

 Management Policy. 



The management measures are organized by 

 individual trail segment in the order they would 

 be encountered on an east/west migration. The 

 individual trail segments are identified in Table 

 1, Part I. 



MANAGEMENT ACTIONS FOR 

 TRAILS 



The following management action is identified 

 for each site. 



Torrington to independence Rock - TIR 

 (Casper/Rawlins Districts) 



Management of Sites 



Site TiR-3 Bessemer Bend. The existing facilities 

 at this crossing of the North Platte River will be 

 retained. The site was established in 1976 for the 

 Bicentennial. Management actions include public 

 access, designated parking, interpretive panels, 

 vault toilets, and garbage service. Additional 

 facilities will include a picnic ramada, picnic 

 tables, planting of shade trees, and the acquisition 

 of two acres adjacent to the site. 



Site TIR-4 Emigrant Gap. Emigrant Gap is a 

 shallow pass through the ridge now called 

 EmigrantGap Ridge. A historical marker will be 

 installed at the site. A designated parking area 

 and interpretive panel will be developed to 

 facilitate public use and enjoyment of the site. 



Management of Trail Segments 



The Platte River Resource Area Resource 

 Management Plan/Environmental Impact State- 

 ment (RMP/EIS) sets forth land use management 

 decisions for the Oregon/Mormon Trail Resource 

 Management Unit (RMU). Management in this unit 

 will be directed primarily toward protection of the 

 character of significant remnants of historic trail 

 segments. Interpretation and ORV use would be 

 managed for enhancement of the cultural 

 resources. The trail segments will be protected 

 from surface development and ORV use. Any 

 additional trail segments that may be located will 

 be protected on the basis of an evaluation of their 

 significance. The following specific management 

 actions are based on the Platte River RMP/EIS. 



Site TIR-1 Fort Laramie A. The site, an excellent 

 example of Oregon Trail ruts, could be managed 

 by the National Park Service under a cooperative 

 management agreement (CMA). If such a CMA 

 were entered into, appropriate development would 

 include a parking area, a footpath to the trail ruts, 

 signing and interpretive panels. In the absence 

 of a CMA, development of the site would be limited 

 to signing. Another option, which will be 

 considered, would be to transfer this site and the 

 following one - TIR-2 to the National Park 

 Service. The ruts themselves will remain closed 

 to ORV use and the site will be nominated to the 

 National Register of Historic Places. 



Site TIR-2 Fort Laramie B. Public access will be 

 provided to the site. It will remain closed to ORV 

 use. Directional signing will be provided along 

 with interpretive signing at the ruts themselves. 

 The site will be nominated to the National Register 

 of Historic Places. 



Site TIR-5 Horse Creek. Public access will be 

 maintained. Directional and interpretive signing 

 will be installed at the site. ORV use will be limited 

 to existing roads and vehicle routes at the site. 



Site TIR-6 Old Bedlam Segment. At present, public 

 access exists to the site. It will remain closed to 

 ORV use. A designated parking area will be 

 developed along with directional signing and 

 interpretive panels. A foot trail to the wagon ruts 



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