Billings Field Office
| Contacts: | Kristen Lenhardt 406-869-5228 |
Shepherd Recreation Area Closed – Cause, Vandalism
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recreation facilities at the Shepherd Ah-Nei Recreation Area north of Billings were vandalized sometime Saturday night, Sept. 10, 2011, by persons unknown. The site is now closed for repairs and will not re-open until all work is completed.
This is an ongoing investigation. If anyone has any information regarding this or any other vandalism incidents, please contact Jeff Herriford, BLM Law Enforcement, at (406) 698-9854.
Vandals cause significant dollars in destruction to BLM recreation sites every year. The degradation of the sites and repairing the damages diverts taxpayer dollars. Funds earmarked for maintenance and improvement of recreation sites has to be spent instead on repairs.
The problem of vandalism can only be solved with the public's help. Please report any unlawful activity, while being safe, by calling 911, the BLM Montana-Dakotas State Office at 406- 896-5000, or the BLM office nearest you.
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.
Billings Field Office 5001 Southgate Drive Billings, MT 59101