BLM National Public Lands Day Event in Lander a Success

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT NEWS RELEASE
Lander Field Office

Release Date: 10/27/10

Contacts:		Sarah Beckwith
		307-347-5207

BLM National Public Lands Day Event in Lander a Success

Thanks to volunteers from the Lander Nordic Ski Association (LNSA) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) staff, the BLM loop trail at the Beaver Creek Nordic Ski Area south of Lander was improved during a recent workday in celebration of National Public Lands Day.

Volunteers make improvements to the Omera Trail at a recent National Public Lands Day workday at the Beaver Creek Nordic Ski Area.
wenty-three volunteers made improvements to the Omera Trail that will facilitate early season grooming efforts. The trail was re-routed to be closer to the trees and out of the wind scour zone. A number of the trails were walked and cleared of rocks. Fill material was spread, compacted and brushed to provide a consistent surface.

The BLM and the U.S. Forest Service contributed fill material and grass seed. “The hope is that grass will stabilize trails, prevent erosion and provide a better subsurface for grooming in low snow conditions,” said LNSA volunteer Missy White.

BLM Lander Recreation Technician Brandon Thielke thanked all the volunteers for participating in this worthy project. "The improvements made on National Public Lands Day will result in a more enjoyable ski season," Thielke said.

For more information about National Public Lands Day or recreational opportunities on public lands in the Lander area, contact Brandon Thielke in the Lander Field Office at 307-332-8400.

NPLD is the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy. Last year, 150,000 volunteers built trails and bridges, removed trash and invasive plants, planted trees and restored our water resources.

Beaver Creek Nordic Ski Area was developed by skiing enthusiasts of LNSA and operates under a BLM and U.S. Forest Service Cooperative Agreement. Beaver Creek provides a groomed skiing opportunity for both classic and skate skiing. For more information about LNSA, visit their website at www.landernordic.org.

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.

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Lander Field Office 1335 Main Lander, WY 82520

Last updated: 10-27-2010