Canyons of the Ancients Monument Manager receives national recognition

Cortez, Colo.  —  LouAnn Jacobson, Manager of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, has received the third annual BLM National Landscape Conservation System Leadership Award.  This national honor is presented by the Conservation System Alliance and recognizes a BLM employee for their commitment and leadership in managing the BLM’s National Landscape Conservation System.

The BLM’s Conservation System consists of Congressionally and Presidentially designated public lands recognized for their national significance in cultural, ecological, recreational and scientific resources. The Conservation System Alliance consists of more than 80 organizations with the combined purpose of supporting the BLM’s National Landscape Conservation System.
“LouAnn’s leadership and commitment to protecting the BLM’s Conservation System lands made her nomination rise above that of many other outstanding nominees,” said Kevin Mack of the Conservation System Alliance.

Jacobson was nominated for the award by the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in southwestern Colorado. In Crow Canyon's nomination letter, Mark Varien, vice president of programs, said, "LouAnn has shown a repeatedly proven ability to leverage scarce financial resources by forming close and effective partnerships with state agencies, local governments, tribes, non-governmental organizations, and individuals."

As Monument Manager, Jacobson oversees 166,000 acres of the highest known density of archeological sites in the nation.  She is also the Director of the Anasazi Heritage Center, a world-class museum and the headquarters for the Monument, where visitors can learn about Ancestral Puebloan culture and how to explore the area’s fragile resources.

“LouAnn’s outstanding innovation and accomplishments on behalf of the BLM’s National Landscape Conservation System are a service to the heritage of the American Southwest and Colorado’s public lands,” said Sally Wisely, BLM Colorado State Director.

Jacobson began her career as an interpreter at Mesa Verde National Park and participated in excavations at Chaco Culture National Historic Park. Her work with the BLM began in New Mexico as an archaeologist for the Farmington Resource Area.  She then became the Assistant State Archaeologist. In 1993, Jacobson became the director of the Anasazi Heritage Center. She was then appointed Manager of the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in 2000.

The Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is part of the BLM’s National Landscape Conservation System.  These designated areas include national conservation areas, national historic and scenic trails, wild and scenic rivers, wilderness areas, and wilderness study areas. BLM Colorado manages 63 National Landscape Conservation System areas encompassing over 1 million acres – about 1/8 of the 8.3 million acres of BLM land in the state. 

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Editor’s note: Photos of the award ceremony are available.  Please contact BLM or Crow Canyon Archaeological Center for photos or more information.