A plan by internationally-renowned artist Christo to hang miles of fabric over the Arkansas River is moving forward.

United States District Judge William Martinez ruled Friday that the Bureau of Land Management did not violate federal law in its November 2011 approval of the artist’s Over The River project.

Opposition group Rags Over the Arkansas River (ROAR) claimed that the BLM’s decision violated the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.

Over The River calls for large, luminous panels of silver fabric to be strung across a 42-mile stretch of the river at eight locations between Cañon City and Salida.

ROAR, along with the group Quiet Use Coalition, have contested the project for several years, filing legal actions with both state and federal courts claiming the project is environmentally destructive for the fish and wildlife along the Arkansas River and Bighorn Sheep Canyon.

In a statement released Saturday, ROAR said they are disappointed but plan to continue the battle against the “destructive and dangerous” OTR project.

“Ultimately, ROAR knew it would be an uphill battle to stop Christo’s behemoth OTR project. But ROAR’s members know firsthand the incomparable values of the Arkansas River and the sensitive Bighorn Sheep Canyon,” ROAR stated.

“ROAR is still reviewing the judicial opinion and considering other steps to prevent the OTR project from ever being allowed to happen, including the possibility of an appeal.”

Christo said Saturday he is pleased the court is upholding the BLM’s decision.

“I was always confident that the court would uphold the BLM’s actions because the Environmental Impact Statement conducted by the BLM was thorough and comprehensive,” the artist said. “We have one lawsuit in state court still outstanding, but today, we took a very significant and important step forward in realizing Over The River.”

A suit against the Colorado State Parks for allowing Christo to use a state recreation area is currently being appealed in Colorado state court.

OTR spokesman Miles Graham called the federal court’s ruling “careful, thorough, and exactly what one wants in a decision with the potential to be appealed.”

Graham said the OTR team plans to release more information Monday on how the ruling will affect the project’s progress.

Laura Keeney: 303-954-1337, lkeeney@denverpost.com or twitter.com/LauraKeeney