Casper Field Office
| Contacts: | Lesley A. Collins | |||
| 307-261-7603 |
Casper BLM Celebrates National Trails Day along North Platte River
The Bureau of Land Management and the American Hiking Society will host the 17th annual National Trails Day (NTD). Hikers across the country will celebrate a long-standing commemoration of America's magnificent trail system and its countless supporters and volunteers. This year’s event will be held on June 20 at the “Redds” public access area along the North Platte River south of Casper, Wyo.
The BLM Casper Field Office has partnered with several trail groups to celebrate National Trail Day. The different volunteer groups will be completing work on a new interpretive trail located immediately downstream from Gray Reef on the “Redds” public access.
This trail overlooks the spawning area near Gray Reef, providing views of the North Platte River and its spawning beds. The project is a cooperative effort between the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Wyoming Fly Casters and the BLM Casper Field Office. The new trail will be the first Watchable Wildlife for Fish program in the state.
“Signs will be installed later this summer that will educate the public on the biological processes and the importance of in-stream and riparian habitats as well instill a sense of public responsibility and environmental ethics,” noted Casper Field Manager Joe Meyer.
The public is invited to attend BLM’s National Trails Day Celebration. Please wear appropriate attire including long sleeves, hiking shoes, and sunscreen. Work will begin at 8 a.m. and should be completed by 4 p.m. The site is located 2 miles off Wyoming Highway 220 down Grey Reef Road near Alcova southwest of Casper.
“I look forward to seeing everyone on the river. I am amazed at the dedication and hard work of the volunteers found in our local communities,” said Eve Bennett, Outdoor Recreation Planner.
Originally established in 1993, NTD has grown to approximately 3,000 events across the country. For more information or to pre-register a volunteer group please contact Eve Bennett, Outdoor Recreation Planner, at (307) 261-7517.
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.
Casper Field Office 2987 Prospector Drive Casper, WY 82604