High Desert District and Wind River/Big Horn Basin District
| Contacts: | Shelley Gregory, 307-315-0612 | |||
| Sarah Beckwith, 307-347-5207 |
Oregon-California Trails Association
Presents Awards to BLM Wyoming Archaeologists
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming archaeologists were awarded the Oregon-California Trails Association’s (OCTA) highest honor for non-members, the Distinguished Service Award, at its national convention in Rock Springs, Wyo. on Aug. 10.
Archaeologists Lynn Harrell, Kemmerer Field Office, Sam Drucker and Dave Crowley, Pinedale Field Office, and Craig Bromley, Lander Field Office, were recognized for their outstanding service related to the preservation of national historic trails. Crowley was further recognized for his work on the preservation of the Lander Road which included the development of a mitigation agreement that resulted in the acquisition of the New Fork River crossing site in Sublette County, Wyo.
In response to receiving the award, Crowley stated, “It’s a representation of all the hard work being done by archaeologists around the state and I’m honored.” Drucker added, “We usually operate behind the scenes, so it’s gratifying when our work is recognized.”
Wyoming contains the longest and most intact segments of the National Historic Trails System in the nation. “Protecting the trails and their historic settings on public lands where multiple uses occur takes dedication and ingenuity,” said Lander Field Manager Rick Vander Voet. “The BLM is proud of the tireless work of these individuals.”
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.
High Desert District and Wind River/Big Horn Basin District 280 Highway 191 North, Rock Springs WY 82901 1335 Main Street, Lander WY 82520