The Roan Plateau is a plateau in western Colorado , USA, in Garfield County . It contains a variety of natural resources and scenic terrain: high ridges, deep valleys, desert lands, waterfalls, cutthroat trout , mountain lions , bears, rare plants, and oil and natural gas.
11-484: In the natural-color image at right the Roan Plateau assumes shades of green, brown, and beige, and deep canyons form branching, tree-like patterns on the landscape, and desert lands in the portions west of Meeker , Craig , and Rifle . Irrigation enables crops to thrive in this largely arid environment, evidenced by the relative greenness of the orchards and lawns around Grand Junction, Colorado . West of Rifle ,
22-424: A federal onshore lease sale in the lower 48 states. The Colorado state government will receive 49% of the lease bonuses, as well as 49% of subsequent royalties (royalties are 12.5% of the gross value) from gas sales. The lease sale received much criticism from those opposed to development on the plateau, including from Colorado Governor Bill Ritter . Meeker, Colorado Meeker is a statutory town in and
33-730: The Meeker Massacre . The site of the uprising, the former White River Indian Agency, is located along State Highway 64 in the White River valley west of town and is marked by a prominent sign. None of the buildings remain. Meeker was the first incorporated town in Northwestern Colorado and is the County seat for Rio Blanco county. The town was incorporated in 1885 and became the central hub of banking and trade in Northwestern Colorado for several generations. After
44-661: The United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km ), all of it land. The town is situated on the White River at an elevation of 6,250 feet above sea level. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Meeker has a warm-summer humid continental climate , abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Meeker was 103 °F (39.4 °C) on July 11, 1900, while
55-501: The county seat of Rio Blanco County , Colorado , United States, that is the most populous municipality in the county. The town population was 2,374 at the 2020 United States Census . The town is largely a ranching community, located in the wide fertile valley of the White River in northwestern Colorado. Relatively isolated from other communities, it sits near the intersection of State Highway 13 and State Highway 64 , on
66-790: The Rio Blanco County Courthouse and housed in several original wooden structures of the Army garrison. The town emerged as a regional center for hunting by the turn of the 20th century. Theodore Roosevelt visited the town twice in 1901 and in 1905 on a mountain lion and bear hunting trip and stayed in the historic Hotel Meeker opposite the courthouse. The town is also a favorite summer destination and permanent residence for many prominent Americans, including billionaires Michael Bloomberg , former mayor of New York, Henry Kravis , former president and COO of Goldman Sachs Jon Winkelried , and comedian Daniel Tosh . According to
77-592: The desert lands end as you pass the Montrose area. East of Grand Junction, however, Grand Mesa (partially obscured by clouds) is well-forested with conifers. The plateau's energy reserves invite exploration and drilling: existing wells produce natural gas immediately adjacent to the plateau. In 2000 the U.S. Bureau of Land Management began developing the Roan Plateau Resource Management Plan. Released in final form in early 2008,
88-441: The high desert terrain begins. Small towns of Battlement Mesa , Parachute , and De Beque are all high desert terrain. The land of Grand Junction and all around the city is pale beige, and has high desert terrain. This desert landscape extends west and southwest into Utah , and north across the Roan Plateau, and into Wyoming . The desert land also extends southeast through Whitewater , Delta , Olathe , and Montrose , and then
99-506: The north side of the White River and at the base of a long ridge, known locally as China Wall. The Bureau of Land Management has a regional office in the town. Meeker is the home of the annual Meeker Classic Sheepdog trials . The town is named for Nathan Meeker , the United States Indian Agent who was killed along with 11 other white citizens by White River Ute Indians in the 1879 Meeker Incident, also known as
110-568: The plan allowed for recovery of natural gas from beneath the plateau while setting aside 21,034 acres (85 square kilometers) as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern . In accordance with the Management Plan, the BLM leased 54,631 acres (221.08 km) for gas development on the Roan Plateau in August 2008. The winning competitive bids totaled $ 113.9 million in lease bonuses, a record for
121-665: The uprising and the ensuing conflict known as the Ute War , in 1880 the US Congress passed legislation requiring the Ute population to relocate to reservations in Utah . The United States Army established a garrison on the current site of the town, called the Camp at White River. The town was founded in 1883 following the removal of the troops. The White River Museum is located just north of
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