BLM Utah Thanks Volunteers, Partners and Employees for Work on National Public Lands Day Projects

Sep 30, 2022

Natural landscape with a creek and bushes for National Public Lands Day.

National Public Lands Day celebrates volunteer work on public lands and the opportunity to connect to nature. Thank you to the amazing volunteers, partners and Bureau of Land Management employees that participated in National Public Lands Day events this year!

With their help, there was tremendous progress on cleaning up along Mansard Trail, rebuilding part of the Lower Calf Creek Trail, restoring areas in the Circle Cliffs and Dry Fork Canyon, protecting habitat for the endangered Dwarf Bearclaw Poppy, removing litter and debris, installing signs, repairing trails and so much more. Community members, volunteers, partners and local organizations play an important role in the shared stewardship of public lands. Check out some of the events and projects that happened across Utah!

Eagle Scout Project on Bearclaw Poppy Trail

On National Public Lands Day, an Eagle Scout project was completed to help protect habitat for the endangered Dwarf Bearclaw Poppy, an endemic species found only in gypsiferous soils in Utah’s Washington County. The project included the construction of a wooden rail fence along both sides of the trail to help hikers and bikers navigate the start of the one-way directional trail and eliminate off-trail travel. Traveling off the trail can damage sensitive biological soil crusts, affect soil compaction, cause erosion, and result in the loss of vegetation in the Bearclaw Poppy habitat. Volunteers helped rehabilitate user-created shortcuts and spur trails along with installing educational and navigational signage. The project was well attended by volunteers from the community, including athletes and coaches from local high school mountain bike teams.

Collage of project photos with a partially completed fence on the side of the trail, two people standing near a recently installed navigation sign on the trail, and the entrance to the trailhead with a new education sign and fences to help protect Bearclaw Poppy habitat.

Shuttles & Shovels

On National Public Lands Day, volunteers participated in the Shuttle & Shovels volunteer event as a day of riding bikes and working on improvement projects at the Southview Trailhead in Cedar City, Utah.

Collage of project photos with a person moving a boulder on a trail, six people on mountain bikes at the top of a mountain, and volunteers performing trail maintenance using landscaping tools.

Dry Fork Canyon Restoration

Known for its unique geology, deep ties to local history and proximity to Vernal, Utah, a National Public Lands Day event at Dry Fork Canyon was a great opportunity to teach volunteers and visitors about public land stewardship. As a result of vandalism, illegal fires and littering, the Bureau of Land Management connected with over forty youth volunteers and partners to restore dispersed day-use sites throughout Dry Fork Canyon. A fire safety and Leave No Trace presentation kicked off the day’s events, which included guest speakers and a special appearance by Smokey Bear! Together, the team cleaned five day-use sites, learned how magnets can help locate micro-trash like nails, and enjoyed an afternoon hike along the Flume Trail.

Collage of project photos with a group of volunteers walking along on a trail, a mat with some trash collected from the area, Smokey Bear standing on the side of a vehicle, and four people with BLM National Public Lands Day shirts standing in front of a fire engine.

Mansard Trail

In recognition of the "September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance" and National Public Lands Day, six volunteers participated in a cleanup and performed trail maintenance along one mile of the Mansard Trail located near Kanab, Utah.

Collage of project photos with a volunteer walking along on a trail, three volunteers with a scenic desert landscape behind them, and a BLM employee smiling while on the Mansard Trail.

Utah State University Youth Corps Rebuild Lower Calf Creek Trail

The Utah State University Youth Corps started a project to rebuild the Lower Calf Creek trail that will help maintain public access to this international destination along Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 in Escalante, Utah.