BLM Lander appreciates cooperation on public land during eclipse
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LANDER, Wyo. –During the 2017 Great American Eclipse, thousands of national and international visitors took advantage of prime viewing and camping opportunities on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management Lander Field Office. The BLM estimates that more than 10,000 people flocked to the path of totality within the northern half of the Lander Field Office area. Initial reports indicate that the public lands visitors practiced shared conservation stewardship, leaving sites in generally good condition.
"In my 17 years with the BLM in Lander, I have never seen visitation like this,” said Outdoor Recreation Planner Jared Oakleaf. “There were people camping and viewing the eclipse in places where we rarely see people outside of hunting season.”
Oakleaf was pleased with the positive interactions staff had with eclipse-goers. “It was rewarding to host people from across the nation as they visited their public lands in the Lander area,” Oakleaf continued. “Overall, the visitors demonstrated a strong desire to comply with regulations and take care of the land."
Lander Field Office employees conducted extensive resource patrols before, during and after the eclipse, providing critical information and assistance to visitors.
One of the field office’s busiest eclipse viewing locations was the Castle Gardens Rock Art Site, which saw approximately 2,000 people.
The Lander Field Office thanks its local and state government partners, which provided tremendous support for this event.
BLM employees are conducting follow-up patrols to rectify any issues associated with the influx of visitors.
"We are pleased with the initial reports that people have packed their garbage out and the limited findings of resource damage," said Curtis Bryan, BLM assistant field manager for resources. “However, we are prepared to reduce or alleviate any remaining impacts identified during our follow up patrols.”
If you locate a problem area please notify the Lander Field Office at 307-332-8400.
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.