#blmcolorado

[mypubliclands]

#TravelTuesday: The Salida Mountain Trail System in Colorado

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-managed Salida Mountain Trail System provides a true backyard to backcountry experience. These are the closest trails to downtown Salida and remain snow-free for the majority of the winter season, providing year round riding experiences. The trail system is a stacked loop design, with the more challenging trails higher in altitude and farther out from the trailheads. The trail system provides stunning views of the Continental Divide/Saguache Range and the Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges. The Salida Mountain Trails volunteer organization has partnered with the BLM and the city of Salida to build and rehabilitate this stacked system of environmentally sustainable trails.

May marks National Bike Month. Each week throughout the month of May, the BLM will showcase public lands with premier biking opportunities. 

Photos by Leslie Kehmeier, Mapping Manager, International Mountain Bicycling Association.

[mypubliclands]

Congratulations to the 2017 “Making a Difference” Volunteer Award Winners!

Today, the Bureau of Land Management will present 8 awards to valuable volunteers from across the nation, including three youth awards. Across the nation, volunteers are integral to helping BLM achieve its day-to- day responsibilities of public land stewardship. Last year alone, over 27,000 BLM volunteers performed nearly 1 million hours of service, valued at close to $23 million. The annual "Making a Difference" Award recognizes exceptional volunteers who have contributed thousands of hours to improving the public lands. These hard-working volunteers have helped the BLM monitor cultural resources, improve fish habitats, keep campers safe, and provide environmental education, interpretation, and other visitor services.

Take a look at each of the award winners on the BLM’s National Flickr album for the winners, and find more information about  volunteering with the Bureau of Land Management on the “Volunteers” page our website.

[mypubliclands]

Congratulations to BLM’s Tom Fresques, Recognized for Leading Fish Reclamation Projects!

Tom Fresques, a BLM Fisheries Biologist in Colorado’s Northwest District, recently won an award from the Colorado/Wyoming chapter of the American Fisheries Society. The award, the “Max Rollefson Award of Merit” was presented at their annual meeting in Grand Junction, Colorado on February 23, 2017.  Tom’s work on a major Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) provided a leap forward to restore native fish populations- a multi-year effort in coordination with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). Tom’s PEA streamlines the process for BLM field offices in Colorado to approve native fish restoration project on streams passing through BLM-administered lands?

BLM Colorado’s fisheries program maintains, restores and conserves more than 60 fish species on 4,300 miles of riparian habitat and 10,000 acres of riparian-wetland habitat. Much of this work is accomplished in collaboration with others and funded through various partnerships with federal, state and private organizations. The fisheries and riparian programs are integral components of the BLM's cross-cutting landscape restoration initiatives, supporting projects that enhance aquatic ecosystems and the associated habitat for a variety of fish species. 

The BLM manages the nation’s most ecologically diverse aquatic habitats, ranging from isolated desert springs to Alaska’s North Slope tributaries.  The habitats total 132,000 miles of fish-bearing streams and rivers, 3 million acres of lakes and reservoirs, 150,000 miles of riparian areas, and 13 million acres of wetlands.  Aquatic resources on BLM-managed public lands support the nation’s aquatic biodiversity, support public recreation, and help sustain Native American cultural heritages. 

Learn more about the BLM’s fisheries and aquatics program here.

[mypubliclands]

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from the Bureau of Land Management!

Celebrate today on your public lands! Be sure to wear green, #getoutdoors, and find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more!

[mypubliclands]

RECAP OF MYPUBLICLANDS INSTAGRAM TAKEOVER BY BLM Colorado!

Last week BLM Colorado shared the best of the state’s landscapes and wildlife!

Here we share a recap of some of the photos from BLM Colorado. For more great ideas for exploring your public lands, follow BLM Colorado on Facebook and Twitter.

Next up, follow us on Instagram this week with shares from our friends at BLM Eastern States!

[mypubliclands]

BLM approves the Palisade Plunge trail in Colorado

Today, the BLM’s Grand Junction Field Office approved the “Palisade Plunge,” a new 32-mile single-track trail descending nearly 6,000 feet from the Grand Mesa to Palisade, Colorado.

The Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association (COPMOBA), U.S. Forest Service, Town of Palisade, Mesa County, the City of Grand Junction, the Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Orchard Mesa Irrigation District helped develop the trail as a part of Governor John Hickenlooper’s “Colorado’s 16” initiative to support trails and promote outdoor recreation in Colorado.

Access to the new trail begins at the Mesa Top Trailhead along Highway 65 or from other approved access points along the trail such as Lands End Road or the Palisade Rim Trail. The trail ends in downtown Palisade. 

More information: go.usa.gov/xQJ62

Photos by BLM.

[mypubliclands]

GET A FRESH LOOK OF YOUR PUBLIC LANDS IN Colorado!

This week we continue our week-long @mypubliclands Instagram takeovers by BLM state offices across the country by traveling from Arizona to Colorado!

BLM Colorado manages beautiful places-- everything from archaeological sites to “14er” mountain peaks, like Handies Peak in the photo above. Follow along all week to explore more of Colorado!

We love seeing photos from your public lands! Tag your favorite Instagram photos with @mypubliclands for our Sunday shares. For more great ideas for exploring your public lands, follow BLM Colorado on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo by Bob Wick

[mypubliclands]

Throwback Thursday with historic photos from colorado!

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is woven into the fabric of American history.  Since its origins in 1812, the BLM has played a central role in the nation’s growth and development, just as it does today.

Explore BLM’s History at BLM.gov

View more photos from BLM Colorado’s Flickr.