HELP SAVE UTAH’S TAYLOR FLAT AIRSTRIP

The Bureau of Land Management opened a 30-day period to receive public input on a proposal to re-open 2,500 feet of the dirt Taylor Flat Airstrip. The comment period ends April 3, 2025 .

The airstrip lies outside the Green River Wild and Scenic River corridor and the right-of-way would allow public aviation use for 30 years with a renewal option.

RAF Utah Liaison and Utah Back Country Pilots (UBCP) Board Member Wendy Lessig said, “Taylor Flat offers superior recreational opportunities that rival the Idaho and Montana backcountry airstrips, and is worth saving for several reasons. It offers camping under the dark Utah sky in a wilderness-type setting. It’s a quarter-mile walk to the Green River for catch and release fishing in a wild and scenic river that is incredibly difficult to get to, except by air.”

The BLM is obligated to conduct an Environmental Assessment. Public comments should cover all points for why this airstrip is beneficial to the public and the environment, potential resource issues, and alternatives. It’s likely there will be comments opposing this proposal. Please use these talking points and submit substantive comments in your own words here before April 3, 2025. Once you click the link, select the green “Participate Now” section on the left to enter your comment. Please be patient while the Participate Now link loads.

Resources : Taylor Flat is a previously established but abandoned airstrip, on previously disturbed ground. No new construction or alteration of this primitive airstrip is needed.
Historical/Cultural Resources : Takeoffs, landings, and dispersed use will not create any new impact to cultural and historical artifacts.
Alternatives : Dutch John Airport (33U) is only a 7 minute flight (an hour by ground) from Taylor Flat, but has no access to the Green River without ground transportation. No other Utah airstrip in Utah offers catch-and-release fishing in the Green River a short hike from the airstrip.
Airstrip Maintenance : Volunteer pilot organizations have committed to maintaining Utah’s backcountry airstrips, at no cost to the BLM or taxpayers.
Impacts to wildlife and water resources : Surface and groundwater, and fisheries are not affected by this airstrip. Pilots may access the airstrip for hunting season. Bird strikes by small aircraft are incredibly rare, even in migratory bird corridors. The portion of the airstrip under consideration is purposely outside of the environmentally sensitive area and the Green River wild and scenic river corridor.
Noise impacts : Noise from aircraft is short-term and transient. There is scientific evidence that recreational aircraft do not adversely impact wildlife.
Visual Impact : Taylor Flat Airstrip is not conspicuous due to natural vegetation surrounding the airstrip.
Cumulative Impacts : Taylor Flat Airstrip will provide for dispersed, primitive camping, and will relieve use on nearby campgrounds. Visitors may access nearby Jarvie Historical site.
BLM Consultation : BLM should consider UBCP and RAF input as they advance decisionmaking on Taylor Flat Airstrip. These pilot groups have a wealth of knowledge and can help the BLM retain compatibility with the surrounding environment.
Recreation : This backcountry airstrip adds opportunity for recreational enjoyment, it has added meaningful personal experience … (your personal remarks here.)

Comment deadline: April 3, 2025. Please take a moment and act now to save this recreational gem. Your voice counts!

Submitted March 10, 2025
By Carmine Mowbray

Posted in News

ROB KEANE

February 24, 2026

FLORIDA AMBASADOR

HOWIE BOHL

February 24, 2026

CALIFORNIA AMBASSADOR

RAF AWARDS GRANT FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF HCRC

February 24, 2026

Oregon RAF Liaison Bill Ables has been awarded a $5,000 RAF grant to retain RAF membership in and support the Hells Canyon Recreation Collaborative (HCRC) for the next five years. The HCRC was organized in 2016 at the request of Idaho’s Congressional Delegation as a framework for the various recreational user groups to collaborate with the US Forest Service within the 652,488-acre Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Ables, a past Director and current member of the group, explained that HCRC membership is a cross-section of user groups from both the private and commercial sectors, including river rafters and jet boaters, backpackers, horse packers, aviators, and governmental management agencies. Providing ongoing support ensures continued aviation representation. The rugged Snake River canyon region hugs the borders of northeastern Oregon and western Idaho, and includes nine backcountry airstrips within the Recreational Area. All are maintained by volunteer aviation groups in collaboration with the USFS: Cache Creek, Salmon Bar, Dug Bar, Temperance Creek, Pittsburg Landing, Sluice Creek, Lord Flat, Memaloose, and Big Bar. “Our support of HCRC, combined with the other involved aviation groups, ensures ongoing maintenance and improvements at each of these nine airstrips. It benefits general aviation by preserving access to enjoy the beauty of the Hells Canyon area, which directly speaks to the Mission of the RAF,” Ables said. For more information on Dug Bar, Cache Creek, Big Bar, and Memaloose, see the Airfield Guide . Pittsburg Landing, Sluice Creek, Temperance Creek, and Salmon Bar are not listed in the Airfield Guide at this time. Submitted February 24, 2026