BLM offers free public events this summer at the Headwaters Forest Reserve
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ARCATA, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management and Friends of Headwaters will offer outdoor enthusiasts an opportunity to experience the beauty of the Headwaters Forest Reserve this spring and summer with free guided walks and events. The events will take place on the following dates:
- Bird Walk, Sunday, May 7. Wildlife Biologist Ken Burton will lead participants on a two-mile round trip walk on the Elk River trail to identify native and migratory birds. Participants will learn to identify the various spring bird songs throughout the tour; although participants often hear birds, they remain out of sight in the riparian corridor of Elk River. Participants should meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Elk River Trailhead.
- Salmon Pass Hikes, beginning May 14. Salmon Pass public hikes are scheduled for the second Sunday of each month from May to November. The BLM accepts reservations on the Headwaters website at https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/california/headwaters-forest-reserve or by telephone at 707-825-2300.
- Nature Writing Workshop, Saturday, Aug. 12. North Coast writer Jerry Martien will lead participants on an hour-long session starting at 1 p.m. at the Headwaters Education Center, about a half-mile walk from the Elk River Trailhead. Martien will guide participants through his process of “listening” to nature and “translating” what is heard into poetry and prose.
To reach the Elk River Trailhead, take the Elk River exit from Highway 101 at the south end of Eureka, and then turn onto Elk River Road. Drive about six miles to the Elk River Trailhead parking area.
The 7,472-acre Headwaters Forest Reserve was established in 1999 after a decade-long grassroots effort to protect the world’s last unprotected, intact, old-growth redwood forest ecosystem. Several threatened species, including coho salmon, the northern spotted owl, and the marbled murrelet benefit from the Reserve’s habitat.
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.