The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced Tuesday that it will use $28 million in funds from the Inflation Reduction Act to conserve public lands in the West by implementing six large-scale projects that will protect wildlife habitat, clean water, and recreation for future generations.
In order to do this, the BLM will partner with national organizations, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Navajo Nation. National organizations include Trout Unlimited, the Mule Deer Foundation, the Nature Conservancy, and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. By partnering with organizations across specialties, the agency hopes to improve conditions across a variety of lands, including conserving habitat for mule deer and the imperiled western sage-grouse, removing or modifying fences to allow for migration, and assisting the Navajo Nation in the Bears Ears National Monument area to facilitate more native plants.
BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning emphasized the connection between healthy public lands and quality of life for people across the West. “This will benefit Americans that recreate on our public lands, local communities, Tribes, and of course, the natural resources we rely on,” she said following the announcement.
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Quote of the day
These projects and the projects they are going to deliver are made possible by once in a generation funding that will help the BLM restore and protect our shared public lands, wildlife habitat and clean water for future generations.”
—Tracy Stone-Manning, Bureau of Land Management director, KSL.com
Picture This
Located in Yellowstone’s southeast corner, the Thorofare Ranger Station is touted as the “most remote location in the contiguous US.” With the nearest park road at over 31 miles away (one way), it’s a bucket list visit for many avid backcountry hikers.
(Featured image: Humboldt-O’Neil Basin, Nevada. Bureau of Land Management | Flickr)