Challis Field Office
| Contacts: | Sarah Wheeler | , 208-524-7550 |
Volunteer for National Public Lands Day in Challis
CHALLIS, ID – The public is invited to join the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Challis Field Office in celebrating National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 29, 2012 by volunteering at the Challis Wild Horse Corrals and Challis Bridge Recreation Site.
The Challis Wild Horse Facility temporarily houses wild horses and burros that have been gathered on the range. The facility can maintain up to 250 wild horses. The BLM is looking for volunteers to do some basic repair and improvements of the facility to help ensure the health and safety of the wild horses.
“On Saturday, volunteers will be assisting the BLM in the maintenance of the corrals by painting, removing rocks, spreading gravel and cleaning up the area,” said Ben Roundtree, outdoor recreation planner for the Challis Field Office. “National Public Lands Day activities provide the public an opportunity to gain a sense of reward and accomplishment by making improvements on our public lands.”
The BLM Challis Field Office is seeking volunteers for the following:
• Morning: Beginning at 9:00 a.m., clean-up, painting and miscellaneous maintenance at the Challis Wild Horse Corrals at the end of Hot Springs Road, Challis, Idaho. (The turnoff to Hot Springs Road is 3.7 miles south of Challis on Highway 93.)
• Lunch: At noon, enjoy a BBQ at the Challis Bridge Recreation Site.
• Afternoon: Upper Salmon River trash pick-up at the Challis Bridge Recreation Site following the BBQ.
• Attire: Wear clothes that can get dirty.
• Expected End Time: 4:00 p.m.
“Volunteers will gain an up-close and personal connection with BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program,” said Roundtree. “With their help, our facility will be better prepared to accommodate any visiting animals this fall. The BBQ and cleanup at the Challis Bridge will also provide our volunteers an opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the rich diversity our public lands.”
Questions regarding the volunteer opportunity can be directed to Ben Roundtree of the Challis Field Office at (208) 879-6212.
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. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2012, activities on public lands generated $4.6 billion in revenue, much of which was shared with the States where the activities occurred. In addition, public lands contributed more than $112 billion to the U.S. economy and helped support more than 500,000 jobs.