BLM California Virtual Visitor:  Alaska

Introduction and Highlights from BLM in other States

Welcome to Virtual Visitor, a recurring feature in News.Bytes, created to celebrate BLM's creation as a national agency. In California, there are 15.2 million acres of BLM public lands for you to use, share, and appreciate. Nationwide, BLM is responsible for 256 million acres, mostly in the 12 western States, including Alaska, and for 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate. Over the next few months, we will feature other BLM states, providing you with a sampling of a particular office's specialties and areas of concentration, and links to more information.

The Bureau of Land Management in Alaska administers approximately 80 million surface acres of federal public land—an area larger than the State of New Mexico.   These public lands are held in trust for the enjoyment of, and use by, the American people.

BLM California thanks Alaska State Director Tom Lonnie and Office of Communications Chief Sharon Wilson for their support with this feature.  

Virtual tour of BLM Alaska:

Special Areas

Bureau of Land Management’s National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) offers some of Alaska's most spectacular landscapes, which the agency manages for conservation purposes under its multiple-use mandate.  These wild and often remote places provide opportunities for scientific research, recreation, and a wide range of other uses. Learn more about the  Delta National Wild & Scenic River, Steese National Conservation Area, and other BLM Special Areas.

Recreation

When summer moves in, Alaskans move out -- outdoors that is. Camping is one of many popular summertime activities in Alaska, for residents and visitors alike.  It's good to know that you can camp on most BLM public lands for up to 2 weeks (14 days) at a time.  All camping is on a first-come first-serve basis, plan to arrive early.  Campgrounds

For many visitors, the mystique of Alaska is its wildlife.  Travelers arrive expecting to see moose, caribou, bears, or wolves from the road, but often go home disappointed.  This is no surprise when you realize that these animals are spread over an area the size of Texas, Montana, and California combined!  But don't give up.  If you're traveling by road, you can actually increase your chances of seeing wild animals.   Watchable Wildlife Sites

The Iditarod National Historic Trail commemorates a 2,300 mile system of winter trails that first connected prehistoric Alaska Native villages, later became a major route for the settlement of Gold Rush-era Alaska, and continues to play a vital role in modern-day Alaska.  The main trail from Seward to Nome was first mapped and marked in 1908 by the U.S. Army following popular Native trails used since ancient times.  Gold Rush freight and mail haulers relied primarily on dogsleds, while travelers also used snowshoes, skis, and the occasional bicycle.  The 900 mile main route, often called the “Seward to Nome mail trail,” was served by roadhouses and shelter cabins located a convenient day’s journey apart--about 20 miles. Downturns in mining and the introduction of the airplane for mail and freight service caused a decline of trail use in the mid-20th century.  In 1978 the winter system was designated as a National Historic Trail after a sustained effort by Alaskan dog-sledding enthusiasts.  Today the historic Iditarod Trail system is home to three internationally famous long-distance winter races and used annually by thousands for recreation, subsistence hunting, and inter-village travel.

When did the first people come to the Western Hemisphere?  And who were they?  BLM scientists in northern Alaska are at the cutting edge of new theories about the first Americans.  The emerging picture from their research heightens the complexity surrounding one of the most enduring anthropological questions of our time.  Archaeology: In Search of the First Americans

In Alaska, the first use of the Antiquities Act to protect a specific historical or prehistoric site was by President William Howard Taft in 1910 when he proclaimed Alaska's first National Historic Monument.  It was at Sitka, Alaska and is now called the Sitka National Historic Park.  Alaska Antiquities Act Centennial

More than 65 million years ago, dinosaurs lived in parts of Alaska, including the North Slope above today's Arctic Circle. Dinosaur remains in Alaska--teeth, bones, footprints, and skin impressions--have been discovered only in the last few decades.  Traces of other prehistoric animals and plants, including bones and tusks from Ice Age mammoths and mastodons, are found throughout the state.  Fossil Collecting & Artifact Hunting in Alaska

Energy and Minerals

The BLM-Alaska Energy Program is responsible for the administration of federally owned lands containing leasable minerals, including oil and gas, phosphates, coal, coalbed natural gas, oil shale, and geothermal resources.

The BLM manages the 23 million-acre National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A), the largest contiguous block of land administered by the BLM.

The BLM's management of these energy resources on public lands is guided by established laws and regulations that help protect people, wildlife and the environment; and inform the public about explorative plans and activities, and the development and production of these limited resources.

The BLM is one of 6 federal agencies and 6 state agencies that form the unique Joint Pipeline Office (JPO).  The JPO provides oversight of Alaska's oil and gas industry efforts to safely operate the 880-mile-long Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) so the environment is protected while the pipeline transports crude oil to Valdez for shipment in tankers to refineries on the West Coast.

Welcome to " Get Energized."  This site was developed by the Anchorage Field Office's Campbell Creek Science Center to foster greater understanding of energy and the importance of public lands to meeting our nation's energy needs.

Fire

The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (AFS) provides wildland fire suppression services for all Department of the Interior and Native Corporation Lands in Alaska.  In addition to suppressing wildland fires, AFS has other statewide responsibilities, including: interpretation of fire management policy; oversight of the BLM-Alaska Aviation program; planning, implementing, and monitoring fuels management projects; disposing of hazardous materials; and operating and maintaining advanced communication and computer systems such as the Alaska Lightning Detection System.  AFS operates on an interagency basis - cooperators include the Bureau of Land Management, State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources, USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Military in Alaska.

The Alaska Interagency Coordination Center (AICC) is the Geographic Area Coordination Center for Alaska.  Located on Ft. Wainwright (near Fairbanks), AICC serves as the focal point for initial attack resource coordination, logistics support, and predictive services for all state and federal agencies involved in wildland fire management and suppression in Alaska.

We hope you have enjoyed your "visit" to BLM in Alaska. Watch for more BLM destinations in the coming months.

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