Miles City Field Office
| Contacts: | Mark Jacobsen (406) 233-2831 |
BLM to Reopen Areas to Public
The BLM will be lifting some restrictions at the Matthews and Pumpkin Creek Ranch and Recreation Areas to the public effective Friday, July 15, 2011.
Previously both locations were under safety restrictions due to road erosion and high water levels which created potentially unsafe conditions for visitors.
According to Dena Lang, outdoor recreation planner for the Miles City Field Office, vehicle travel in the BLM-administered areas of the Pumpkin Creek Ranch will be open except where posted closed.
No off-road vehicle travel is permitted to circumvent closed areas or roadway erosion. The BLM is not maintaining the roads at this time and travelers are advised that they assume all risks when using the area.
Matthews Recreation Area is seeing some relief from adverse flood conditions, nevertheless visitors are advised to use caution and avoid flagged areas.
The BLM also encourages the visiting public to remember that “Leave No Trace” and “Respected Access” principles apply. Please leave the area better than you find it; pack out all garbage and avoid damaging the landscape. Proper stewardship and a respect for public lands will aid the BLM in maintaining the resource for everyone; and avoid the need for further restrictions or closures.
For more information contact the BLM at 406-233-2800.
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.
Miles City Field Office 111 Garryowen Road Miles City, MT 59301