BLM National Director to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of LWCF at the Sandy Ridge Trailhead
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Welches, Ore. -- As a part of the Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell's events to underscore the importance of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to support communities' conservation, outdoor recreation and clean water projects, National Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Neil Kornze will be at the Sandy Ridge Mountain Bike Trailhead on July 8 at 2:30 p.m., to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the LWCF. The event will highlight conservation and recreation achievements along the Sandy River and showcase the work being done by BLM and partners to conserve regionally significant Pacific Northwest landscapes and endangered species while providing high quality opportunities for public recreation, tourism, and youth employment.In the summer of 1999, the BLM, Western Rivers Conservancy and Portland General Electric formed a partnership to conserve open space along the Sandy and Little Sandy. Since 2001, the project has succeeded in protecting 3,150 acres, preserving crucial habitat for wildlife and threatened salmon and steelhead species. The natural resource and recreation area is managed by the BLM as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern.The land acquisition and conservation effort has created new opportunities for outdoor recreation along the Sandy River. The BLM is working closely with community partners such as the International Mountain Bicycling Association, local users and youth organizations Antfarm and Northwest Youth Corps to develop the 15-mile Sandy Ridge Trail System, a collection of innovative mountain bike trails that is expected to host more than 100,000 visits in 2014.Numerous partner organizations will be on hand to celebrate including Clackamas County, Travel Oregon, International Mountain Bike Association and Western Rivers Conservancy. For more information on the Sandy River conservation project, go to: blm.gov/or/districts/salem/plans/sandy_river_corridor.phpFor directions and additional information on the Sandy Ridge Trail System, go to: blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/site_info.php?siteid=395
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.