BLM to host open house for designating routes and trails in the Sand Creek Desert and St. Anthony Sand Dunes
Organization
BLM Office:
Media Contact:
ST. ANTHONY, ID – On May 31, the BLM is inviting the public to provide local input and expertise on designating routes and trails on public lands located within the Sand Creek Desert and St. Anthony Sand Dunes. The open house will be held from 4-6 p.m. at the Fremont County Annex Building located at 125 N. Bridge Street in St. Anthony, Idaho.
“The BLM is required to have a travel management plan, which is essentially an approved list of roads and trails we can travel on to access our public lands,” said Recreation Planner Jason Byrd. “We know the St. Anthony Sand Dunes and the Sand Creek Desert are popular places to recreate and this is our first attempt at ground-truthing what currently exists on the landscape.”
The BLM is holding the meeting early in the summer to allow interested individuals and groups the opportunity to get outside and review the inventory the BLM has on record. “This is an excellent time for the public to get involved in this planning process,” said Jeremy Casterson, Upper Snake Field Manager. “We are operating on a clean slate, and the more input and knowledge they can provide us with, the better our decision will be.”
At the meeting, the public will be able to view a variety of maps depicting current trails on the ground. Upper Snake Field Office staff will be on hand to answer any questions or concerns and explain the travel management planning process in detail.
The Sand Creek Desert and St. Anthony Sand Dunes area is popular with a variety of recreational users and is one of four areas the field office is focusing on during travel management planning. For more information, contact Jason Byrd, jbyrd@blm.gov or 208-524-7500.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.