| Contacts: | Vanessa Delgado, Public Affairs Specialist, 303-239-3681 |
Mud Springs Campground Construction Complete (09-09-10)
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. –The Bureau of Land Management recently completed a $97,668 renovation to the Mud Springs Campground near Glade Park. The project was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and completed by Tusca II, Inc. in Grand Junction.
The renovations include enhanced drainage, resurfaced and re-graded roads and RV parking spaces, upgraded picnic tables, which are handicap accessible, and a new fence to keep livestock out of the campground.
“There were more than a thousand visitors who came to the Mud Springs Campground last summer,” said Chris Ham, supervisory recreation planner with the BLM Grand Junction Field Office. “The developments have made the area safer and more accessible for those who plan to use it in the future.”
The ARRA gave $3 billion to the Department of the Interior. Of that amount, $305 million in funding went to the BLM.
The ARRA funds are part of a stimulus package that is an important component of the President's plan to jumpstart the economy so the country can thrive in the 21st century. Under the ARRA, Interior is making an investment in conserving America's timeless treasures – our stunning natural landscapes, our monuments to liberty, the icons of our culture and heritage – while helping American families and their communities prosper again. Interior is also focusing on renewable energy projects, the needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives, employing youth and promoting community service.
“With its investments of Recovery Act funds, the Department of the Interior and its bureaus are putting people to work today to make improvements that will benefit the environment and the region for many years to come,” Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said.
Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department’s economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on www.recovery.gov and on www.interior.gov/recovery.
Secretary Salazar has appointed a Senior Advisor for Economic Recovery, Chris Henderson, and an Interior Economic Recovery Task Force to work closely with Interior’s Inspector General and ensure the recovery program is meeting the high standards for accountability, responsibility, and transparency set by President Obama.
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.
2815 H Road Grand Junction, CO 81506