| Contacts: | Aaron Curtis | , (801) 539-4225 |
Bureau of Land Management Utah Provides Recreational Access to Wounded Veterans
Salt Lake City, UT - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Utah State Office has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Disabled Sports USA that will allow approximately 50 wounded military veterans to participate in five multi-day river running trips on the Colorado, Green, and San Juan rivers during 2011.
Disabled Sports USA is a national, non-profit organization established in 1967 by disabled Vietnam veterans to serve the war injured. The organization offers sports rehabilitation programs to anyone with a permanent disability, including targeted programs for disabled veterans, through its national network of more than 100 chapters in 38 states.
Participation in outdoor recreation activities is proven to enhance persons with disabilities’ self-confidence, physical and mental well-being, and quality of life. Six of Disabled Sports USA’s chapters, the Adaptive Sports Association, Breckinridge Outdoor Education Center, Challenge Aspen, Colorado Discover Ability, Common Ground Outdoor Adventures, and Team River Runner, are collaborating with BLM Utah’s Moab, Monticello, and Price field offices to organize the river trips.
"Disabled Sports USA is delighted that the agreement with BLM Utah will directly provide disabled veterans with recreational opportunities. We thank BLM Utah for their investment in the rehabilitative experiences that will be offered this summer on public lands and rivers," said Kirk Bauer, Executive Director of Disabled Sports USA and a disabled Vietnam veteran. "This represents a wonderful opportunity to enjoy healthy, outdoor activities in one of the most scenic states in the USA."
BLM Director Bob Abbey and Disabled Sports USA recently signed a national Memorandum of Understanding to work together to promote outdoor recreation for persons with disabilities on public lands and waterways across twelve western states. This national agreement paved the way for BLM Utah to offer the river trips to interested Disabled Sports USA chapters serving disabled veterans. The Utah agreement will directly implement recommendations to increase and improve recreational access to persons with disabilities included in this year’s “America’s Great Outdoors” report to the President and supports the White House’s ongoing “Joining Forces” initiative to honor America’s armed service members and their families.
“The agreement between BLM Utah and Disabled Sports USA is recognition of the significant role our public lands and waterways can play in supporting the reintegration of our nation’s combat troops,” said Juan Palma, BLM Utah State Director. “BLM Utah is proud to provide these world class river running opportunities to these heroes who have sacrificed so much for our country.”
BLM Utah Recreation and Visitor Services Program: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/prog/recreation.html
Disabled Sports USA: http://dsusa.org/
America’s Great Outdoors Report: http://americasgreatoutdoors.gov/
White House Joining Forces Initiative: http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces
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.
440 West 200 South, Suite 500 SLc, UT 84101-1345