U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT NEWS RELEASE
| Contacts: | Cass Cairns, 719-269-8553 |
Southwest Conservation Corps assists with Arkansas River Travel Management Plan implementation
Cañon City, Colo. – An eight-member Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) work crew, ages 20-25, have been instrumental with the implementation of the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office’s Arkansas River Travel Management Plan (TMP) near Salida.
The SCC crew started working last week constructing fence along a mile and a half stretch on BLM lands off County Road 108. This area is within the Arkansas River TMP area. It was recently pinpointed by the BLM for its ongoing problems with dumping and illegal off-road use. Prison crews were utilized in the clean-up operations and the BLM hopes construction of the fence will minimize future illegal dumping and off-road use.
Utilization of the SCC crew was made possible through assistance agreements with the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association (GARNA) and the Gold Belt Byway Association. SCC is a non-profit agency founded in 1998, providing young women and men with structured, safe and challenging work and education opportunities through employment projects. More information about the SCC can be found at their Web site at www.sccorps.org.
“We are fortunate that we can utilize the Southwest Conservation Corps in our implementation efforts of the Arkansas River TMP. It is a benefit to the BLM, SCC and our public land users.” said Royal Gorge Field Manager Roy Masinton.
The fencing project should be completed by Thursday, June 25. For further information contact the Royal Gorge Field Office at 719-269-8500.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
BLM Royal Gorge Field Office 3028 East Main Street Canon City, CO 81212