Kemmerer Field Office
| Contacts: | Shelley Gregory | |||
| 307-315-0612 |
BLM Kemmerer Field Office Conducts Sage-grouse Mapping
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Kemmerer Field Office (KFO) is conducting mapping efforts throughout the field office area in order to delineate winter sage-grouse habitat. The mapping efforts will continue through May 15 and assist the BLM in managing the sagebrush habitat for sage-grouse and other sagebrush obligate species. Mapping will also assist in the implementation of the 2010 KFO Resource Management Plan (RMP) Record of Decision (ROD) which directs the avoidance of surface disturbing and disruptive activities in occupied Greater Sage-grouse winter habitats from Nov. 15 through Mar. 14.
The mapping will include 300,000 acres of BLM-administered winter closure areas at Rock Creek, Fontenelle, and Bridger Creek. It is possible that the public will encounter snow machine tracks leading into one of these closed areas. These are likely from mapping activities; however, the KFO recommends that the public call 307-828-4500 to report any type of use of the winter closure areas.
As a reminder, the winter closure areas are closed to all motorized vehicle travel (e.g., snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, pickups, and sport utility vehicles) through Apr. 30. Use of these areas by non-motorized means (i.e., walking, horseback, cross-country skiing, mountain biking) is still allowed. These winter closures have been in effect since 2002 and are necessary to protect elk, moose, pronghorn, and mule deer from disruptive human activities which, during the difficult winter months, can increase the mortality rate for these animals.
A map of the closed areas can be found at http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/field_offices/Kemmerer/recreation/closures.html.
For more information, please contact Erik Norelius at 307-828-4512 or enorelius@blm.gov, or visit the KFO at 312 Hwy. 189 N., Kemmerer, Wyo.
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.
Kemmerer Field Office 312 Highway 189 North Kemmerer WY 83101