  |
||||
|
||||
|
- Recreation |
||||
| RECREATION | ||||
 |
2017 Total Solar Eclipse Viewing TipsOn Monday, August 21, 2017, millions of people across the United States will get to see one of nature’s most awe-inspiring sights -- a total solar eclipse. With wide-open spaces and low light pollution, public lands managed by Bureau of Land Management in Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon are the perfect place for viewing this rare event. (DOI blog) Related: Watch Solar Eclipse on Your Public Lands (BLM website) Related: View the Eclipse (Travel Wyoming) Related: Idaho’s Solar Eclipse: Camping in the Path of Totality (Visit Idaho) Related: Tips for planning a safe and enjoyable High Desert eclipse viewing (Oregon Natural Desert Association) |
|||
 |
Find Your AdventureThe Bureau of Land Management invites you to explore many of the hidden gems on your public lands. We want to remind you to always be safe outdoors and make sure you prepare for whatever adventure you choose. Many of the recreation opportunities on BLM-managed public lands are often remote and rugged, offering unparalleled connections to the American outdoors. (My Public Lands Tumblr) Related: blm.gov/visit |
|||
 |
Video: Colorado's Alpine LoopLocated northeast of Silverton, Colorado in San Juan and Hinsdale Counties, the Alpine Loop Back Country Byway is a premiere visitor destination. The Alpine Loop draws off-highway-vehicle enthusiasts from across the country who are treated with a network of roads that climb above timberline, accessing unparalleled vistas in alpine environment. There are also fantastic hiking, biking and camping opportunities. Scattered along the Alpine Loop are remnants of our nation’s frontier history, where visitors can learn about the bustling mining towns that once thrived here. (BLM Colorado Facebook) |
|||
 |
Out of this World: New Mexico's Bisti BadlandsLike the set scenery for a science-fiction movie that takes place on another planet, the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, most commonly referred to as the Bisti Badlands, is home to phantasmagoric formations that have been weathered by wind and water over time. (My Public Lands Tumblr) |
|||
 |
Volunteers help BLM Celebrate National Trails DayFor Mel Langdon, volunteering at the BLM Campbell Tract on National Trails Day is about paying it forward. “I raised some kids and they came out here for camps,” said Langdon. “I appreciate all the facilities that are here. So this is payback for that and for the next kids coming up.” Langdon was one of about 30 people who came to help build and repair fences, plant trees, improve access to Campbell Creek, and weed and replant the gardens at the BLM Campbell Tract on National Trails Day. (BLM Alaska Facebook) |
|||
| COMMERCIAL | ||||
 |
Made In America: 12 things brought to you by the Interior DepartmentOn March 3, 1849, the Department of the Interior was created to take charge of the nation’s internal affairs. Interior’s diverse mission -- which includes managing America’s vast natural and cultural resources, honoring our tribal relations, and supplying the nation with energy -- has earned it the nickname “The Department of Everything Else.” Nearly 170 years since it was established, Interior continues to provide invaluable services to the country. From mapping data used by companies to new technologies, Interior is developing innovations, programs and products that are Made in America and serve the public. (DOI blog) Related: “Made in America: Promoting the All-American Outdoor Experience” (White House News Release) Related: Secretary Zinke Announces Made in America Recreation Advisory Committee (DOI News Release) |
|||
 |
Celebrating Your Public Lands during “Made in America” WeekThis week, July 17-21, the Bureau of Land Management joins the Department of the Interior in celebrating the Trump Administration’s “Made in America” Week. With responsibility for managing more than 10 percent of the nation’s land and 30 percent of its subsurface minerals, the BLM supports American-made goods and services in many ways. (BLM News Release) |
|||
 |
Video: Newberry Geothermal ProjectDid you know, the Newberry Geothermal project has the potential to create 100 full-time jobs in south Deschutes County? When completed this project would have a large economic footprint and benefit to the local area. (BLM Oregon Facebook) |
|||
 |
Ever wonder why Alaska is just so different?Well it's not just the latitude, or size, or wildlife, or that 800-mile oil pipeline. Alaska was different from the start. The land that later became our state was acquired through a land purchase by the federal government as opposed to a treaty. People settled in the Last Frontier for military postings or seeking gold and new adventures, or the promise of a new life. After awhile, people wanted to transition from a territory to a state. Alaska became the 49th state in 1959 and as a part of the Statehood Act, the federal government gave the infant State of Alaska 104 million acres of federal land to get the State going and start a local economy... (BLM Alaska Facebook) |
|||
| CONSERVATION | ||||
 |
Utah Girl Scouts Earn a Respect and Protect PatchThis month, thirty Girl Scouts from four troops across Utah earned their archaeology “Respect and Protect” patches at the Project Archaeology Girl Scout Camp in Utah’s scenic Professor Valley. Project Archaeology is BLM’s premiere program that teaches students and teachers about America’s rich cultural heritage. (My Public Lands Tumblr) |
|||
 |
Record of the Day via BLM Eastern StatesThe General Land Office provides live access to scanned images of more than eleven million federal land records dating back to 1785. These records are the source title documents for all lands in the US Public Land Survey System (PLSS). In this role they support all commercial, recreational and conservation efforts on private and public lands in the PLSS states. (BLM Eastern States website) |
|||
 |
RAP Camp Students Have Fun Learning about Forestry and Natural Resource CareersFor Grant Union High School student Chee Cha, Resources and People (RAP) Camp did more than teach her about the many career opportunities available in natural resource management—it also taught her how to challenge herself... Approximately 30 high-school-aged students from northern and central California, one student from southern Oregon, and one high school graduate from Iowa, attended the 26th annual RAP Camp from June 11 to 17, at Lake of the Woods, approximately 40 miles from Medford and Klamath Falls, Oregon. (BLM California Facebook) |
|||
 |
Making a Traditional Pit River Summer HouseBLM California, with considerable contributions from the Pit River Tribe, Modoc National Wildlife Refuge and Modoc National Forest, successfully built a traditional Pit River summer house. The experience taught school children and archaeologists alike valuable lessons including a traditional technology and that it truly takes a community to build a tule house. (BLM California Facebook) |
|||
 |
Video: Protecting Native American RuinsCultural resources are a fragile, limited resource with potential public and scientific uses. They are an irreplaceable part of our Nation's heritage. Management of cultural resources on the public lands is primarily determined by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA). Consistent with FLPMA, the BLM follows the same multiple use principles and the same planning and decision making processes that are followed in managing other resources on the public lands. (BLM Oregon Facebook) |
|||
| HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS | ||||
 |
8 Things You Didn’t Know About the Bureau of Land ManagementOne of nine bureaus under the Interior Department, the Bureau of Land Management’s roots go back to America’s founding. BLM was established on July 16, 1946, when the General Land Office and the U.S. Grazing Service were merged. More than 70 years later, it remains a small agency with a big job -- managing public lands for multiple-uses like recreation and natural resource development for the benefit of present and future generations. (DOI blog) |
|||
 |
Video: Endangered Pygmy Rabbits Rescued from Central Washington WildfireDozens of pygmy rabbits were saved thanks to the quick teamwork of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists and BLM firefighters, after the Sutherland Canyon Fire swept across a state-managed breeding ground late last month. (BLM Oregon Facebook) |
|||
 |
Saving an Eagle's LifeIn late June, BLM Ranger Mike Thompson and Utah Canyon Outdoors owner Caitlin Clery rescued a young male eagle from the depths of a slot canyon in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The eagle was originally found during a Utah Canyon Outdoors guided hike, and appeared to be endangered and in need of rescuing. (BLM Utah Facebook) Related: Eagle rescued from Slot Canyon (Southwest Wildlife Foundation of Utah YouTube) |
|||
 |
Murphy Complex - Ten Years LaterThis week marks 10 years since the start of the Murphy Complex Fire. This 653,000-acre fire was the biggest in Idaho since 1910. It destroyed animals, plants, property and resources in Idaho and Nevada. This is the story of the Murphy fire, the people who lived through it and BLM's effort to help the land recover from it. (BLM Idaho Facebook) |
|||
 |
National Interagency Fire Center Welcomes New SmokejumpersThe Boise BLM smokejumper base at the National Interagency Fire Center has three new female smokejumpers. Jessica Crump, Martha Schoppe and Heidi Esh are all new smokejumpers at Boise who are ready for the next step in their firefighting careers. Of the 80 smokejumpers at the Boise base, these three comprise the only females. (My Public Lands Tumblr) |
|||
 |
Federal, State Officials Chart Next Steps in Sage-grouse ConservationThe Bureau of Land Management and states with sage-grouse habitat have begun drafting a report responding to Secretarial Order 3353, Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation and Cooperation with Western States, signed in June by Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to support partnerships in maintaining sage-grouse populations. Federal and state resource managers met for two days this week in Denver to identify opportunities for incorporating the expertise of federal and state employees in the field as well as proven state and local approaches to on-the-ground management. (BLM News Release) |
|||
| WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK | ||||
 |
Fill in the Blank "___________________ has ravaged bat populations in many parts of this nation." Keep reading for answer below. |
|||
| DOI HIGHLIGHTS | ||||
 |
Interior Announces $13.3 Million for Improvements to Local Parks and Recreation in 22 CitiesThe U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service announced $13.3 million through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program to assist 22 cities in 17 states with projects to plan, build, and enhance parks and other outdoor recreation facilities in underserved communities. These public-private partnerships leverage $13.3 million in federal funding with $21.2 million from local governments, private firms, and non-profit organizations to improve accessibility of playgrounds, create canoe and kayak launches and fishing piers, restore vacant industrial land for park uses, and make other important investments in parks across the country. (DOI News Release) |
|||
 |
Secretary Zinke Announces 76 Million Acres Offered in Gulf of Mexico Region-Wide Oil and Gas Lease SaleU.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced that the Department would offer 75.9 million acres offshore Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida for oil and gas exploration and development. The region-wide lease sale scheduled for August 16, 2017 would include all available unleased areas in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico and provide a reduced royalty rate for shallow water leases to encourage exploration and production under current market conditions. (DOI News Release) |
|||
 |
Secretary Ryan Zinke Appoints Veteran Interior Official Todd Willens as Assistant Deputy Secretary of the InteriorU.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced the appointment of former Interior Department official and former Chief of Staff to Rep. Steve Pearce (NM) Todd Willens as Assistant Deputy Secretary of the Interior. In this role, Willens will work closely with yet-to-be-confirmed Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt. Willens brings with him more than 20 years of public policy and governmental affairs experience, with proven successes on behalf of prior Administrations, Members of Congress, national associations, and the private sector. He possesses a deep knowledge and understanding of the Department’s many complex policies, ranging from land to energy, wildlife, and water management. (DOI News Release) Related: Interior Welcomes Seven New Hires (DOI News Release) |
|||
 |
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s Statement on the End of the Monuments Review Public Comment PeriodOn Monday, July 10, the formal public comment period closed for the review of national monuments. More than 1.2 million comments were received on Regulations.gov and thousands more were received via traditional mail. Twenty-seven national monuments designated since January 1, 1996 that are more than 100,000 acres, or that were considered to have inadequate public input are under review in accordance with President Donald J. Trump’s April 26, 2017, executive order. (DOI News Release) Related: Secretary Zinke Announces Recommendation on Idaho’s Craters of the Moon and Washington’s Hanford Reach National Monuments (DOI News Release) |
|||
 |
Secretary Zinke Announces Nearly $32 Million in Boating Recreation and Tourism GrantsU.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced nearly $32 million in maritime- and boating-related grants that will benefit boating recreation and tourism by improving boating infrastructure, keeping water clean for anglers, and preserving maritime heritage and inland waterways. Secretary Zinke made the announcement at the Yorktown Historic Freight Shed Lawn at the Riverwalk Landing, where he was joined by local Congressman Scott Taylor. (DOI News Release) |
|||
 |
Zinke Signs Secretarial Order To Streamline Process For Federal Onshore Oil And Gas Leasing PermitsU.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke signed a secretarial order to tackle permitting backlogs and delays, identify solutions to improve the permitting process on federal lands, and to identify solutions to improve access to additional parcels of federal land that are appropriate for mineral development. As of January 31, 2017, the Bureau of Land Management had 2,802 Applications for Permit to Drill pending. (DOI News Release) Related: Interior’s Role in American Energy Dominance (DOI video) |
|||
 |
Department of the Interior Awards $6.9 Million to 17 Projects for Drought PreparationSecretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced that the Bureau of Reclamation is awarding 17 projects in California, Colorado, Nevada, Oklahoma and Montana a total of $6.9 million to proactively prepare for and address drought in their communities. The federal funding will be leveraged to support more than $47.9 million for the development of drought contingency plans and implementation of drought resiliency projects. (DOI News Release) |
|||
 |
Secretary Zinke, Senators, and Local Officials Announce Rural Communities to Receive Record $465 Million in PILTWhile meeting with local, state and federal officials in Nevada, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced that more than 1,900 local governments around the country will receive $464.6 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2017. Nevada has more federally-owned land than any other state (as a percentage) and will receive $26,184,790. This year's $464.6 million is the largest amount ever allocated in the program’s 40-year history. This funding level continues to underscore the Trump Administration’s commitment to rural communities. (DOI News Release) |
|||
 |
Secretary Zinke Announces Initiatives to Protect Western Ecosystems and Hydroelectric Facilities from Invasive MusselsU.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke praised a package of actions and initiatives developed through collaboration with western governors and federal, state and Tribal agencies to protect areas in the West from the economic and ecological threats posed by invasive mussels. (DOI News Release) |
|||
 |
Secretary Zinke Announces Recovery and Delisting of Yellowstone Grizzly BearDue to the success of conservation efforts and collaboration among a variety of stakeholders, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced that the Yellowstone population of the grizzly bear has been recovered to the point where federal protections can be removed and overall management can be returned to the states and tribes. The population has rebounded from as few as 136 bears in 1975 to an estimated 700 today and meets all the criteria for delisting. (DOI News Release) |
|||
 |
Interior Announces Regulatory Reform Initiative to Make Government Work for AmericaThe Department of the Interior announced an initiative to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens placed on the American people. This initiative implements the vision set out by President Trump in Executive Order 13777, “Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda.” This initiative is part of a government-wide initiative to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens on the American public. (DOI News Release) |
|||
| WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK ANSWER | ||||
| White-nose syndrome has ravaged bat populations in many parts of this nation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced over $1 million in grants to 37 states and the District of Columbia to help combat white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has killed millions of North American bats in recent years. Funds will help states find ways to prevent the spread of WNS while increasing survival rates of afflicted species. (USFWS News Release) | ||||
|
||||
