| Contacts: | David Boyd, Public Affairs Specialist, (970) 876-9008 |
Volunteers needed for National Public Lands Day project in wild horse area (09-20-12)
CRAIG, Colo. -- Volunteers are needed on National Public Lands Day, Sept. 29, to help remove trash and wire from the Sand Wash Wild Horse Herd Management Area northwest of Maybell, Colo.
Sand Wash Basin has some of the most colorful wild horses in Colorado and is a popular off-highway vehicle riding area.
Volunteers will donate four hours to help make the area safer for wild horses, wildlife and people. Because of the distance, the event includes an overnight camping trip with a wienie and marshmallow roast on Friday, Sept. 28. Camping will be approximately 1.5 miles past the Sand Wash Basin entrance (CR 67) on BLM Road 2067A2; just look for the NPLD camping sign. Volunteers should meet at the Sand Wash Basin corrals on CR 67 at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29.
All volunteers will be treated to a free BBQ, t-shirt, a fee-free day pass to a participating public land (i.e., National Park, Forest Service, etc.), goody bag, and a free raffle for a chance to win one of two mountain bikes and other prizes.
It is highly recommended that people wishing to participate RSVP to ensure an accurate count for supplies and goodies. Please contact Gina Robison, Outdoor Recreation Planner at 970-826-5083 or send an email to grobison@blm.gov with any questions or to RSVP.
National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance public lands.
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.
455 Emerson Street Craig, CO 81625