Cabin fever? Time to get Spaced Out!
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(BILLINGS, Mont.) – The health and safety of our staff and visitors remains the number one priority of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Montana/Dakotas. But there are still opportunities for many of us to enjoy the outdoors, as long as we heed orders, guidance, and advice of local and state officials and the Centers for Disease Control.
Did you know that the BLM manages 8.3 million acres of public land across Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota? Take this opportunity to explore new areas and avoid very popular or crowded locations where social distancing may be difficult. Limit any group activities to members of your household and keep your total party to 10 or fewer participants.
To limit group gatherings, we have taken the step of closing some of the small number of campgrounds, picnic areas, and cabins that the BLM operates which are normally open this time of year. The closed sites include areas in Western Montana along the Madison River, in the Helena area, and around Garnet and the Lower Blackfoot River. We will post updated information as it becomes available to our website http://ow.ly/E58N50z4r0x.
Other facilities which normally open later in the spring will remain closed until further notice. We have also temporarily halted cleaning and maintenance of facilities like vault toilets to protect the health and safety of our staff.
The work of staff from the BLM Montana/Dakotas support the nation’s energy and food security. We provide for sustainable timber harvest, and protection from wildland fire. We are stewards of amazing landscapes and provide for enjoyment of all types of outdoor recreation.
If you’d like to do business with the BLM, please do so by email or phone whenever possible. If you need to come into one of our offices, please contact us first so we can arrange an appointment to help you during normal business hours. Contact information is available on our website.
Providing for recreation opportunities during this time is just one of the many activities staff with the BLM Montana/Dakotas continue to perform each and every day, because they are vitally important to the nation and our neighbors.
The challenge we’re all facing is finding a way to maximize our efforts to continue our mission while minimizing your risk. Thanks for adhering to local, state, and federal regulations and guidelines in order to recreate responsibility.
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.