On Saturday, September 28, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be hosting numerous National Public Lands Day events across the region. All ages and abilities can get involved helping to restore, beautify, and improve the wild lands and recreation areas we all benefit from and enjoy. The BLM is committed to providing opportunities for Americans to connect or reconnect with our nation’s outdoors.
All tools, safety equipment, and materials needed for the projects will be furnished by the BLM. In addition, volunteers who pitch-in at a National Public Lands Day project will receive a commemorative t-shirt and a “Fee-Free Coupon,” good for free admission to a federal site. The coupon can be used anytime during the following year at sites including those managed by the BLM, the National Park Service, U.S. Fish, and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Volunteers range from Girl Scouts and senior citizens to corporate executives and members of Congress they all have one thing in common: enjoyment and appreciation for our public lands. Volunteering on National Public Lands Day is a great opportunity to spend time with family and friends and enjoy the many benefits that come from connecting with nature.
Please note that some events may occur before or after September 28. A complete list of events planned throughout Oregon and Washington is below. Additional information about this year’s events are at https://www.neefusa.org/npld
| 1 | Office: Burns District Project: Radar Hill Off-Highway Vehicle Area Date: September 6, 10:00am-3:00pm Description: Improve and maintain high-use OHV recreation site. Volunteers will pick up trash and clean up dump sites, install signs. | 7 | Office: Roseburg District Project: Cow Creek Backcountry Byway Date: September 12, 9:00am-2:00pm Description: Clean up trash and litter along the specially designated backcountry byway. |
| 2 | Office: Coos Bay District Project: Bastendorff Beach Date: September 21, 9:00am-2:00pm Description: Improved beach and wildlife conservation. Tasks include pulling Scotch broom and other weeds, trash pickup, planting native wildflower seeds and shrubs. | 8 | Office: Roseburg District Project: North Umpqua Trails Date: September 28, 8:30am-1:30pm Description: Maintenance and improvements to high-use non-motorized trail including pruning, cleaning water-bars and trail surface repairs. |
| 3 | Office: Lakeview District, Klamath Falls Project: Wood River Wetland Restoration Date: September 28, 10:00am-3:00pm Description: Native plants restoration and wildlife habitat conservation; improve public access to the river. | 9 | Office: Spokane District Project: San Juan Islands National Monument Date: September 28, 10:00am-3:00pm Description: Clean-up the roadsides and beaches from summer high-use impacts. Focus on plastics and micro-plastic cleanup. |
| 4 | Office: Lakeview District Project: Cox Pass Trailhead Date: September 28, 8:00am-1:00pm Description: Trailhead and trail maintenance; recreation access improvements. | 10 | Office: Spokane District Project: Hungate Canyon Trail Date: September 28, 9:00am-2:00pm Description: Trailhead cleanup including painting and repairing information board, weed whacking, installing signs and trail maintenance. |
| 5 | Office: Medford District Project: Rogue River Cleanup Date: September 28, 8:00am-1:00pm Description: River clean-up and restoration; land and water projects. | 11 | Office: Spokane District Project: Fishtrap Loop Trail Date: October 5, 8:00am-1:00pm Description: Trail maintenance and restoration, installation of trail markers, benches and signs. |
| 6 | Office: Medford District Project: Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument Date: October 5, 9:00am-2:00pm Description: Site restoration (fence repair) and maintenance to decrease livestock trespass. | 12 | Office: Prineville District Project: Little Canyon Mountain Date: September 28, 10:00am-3:00pm Description: Off-Highway Vehicle play area site cleanup for improved recreation. Tasks include pulling weeds and cleaning up trash. |
| 13 | Office: Northwest Oregon District Project: West Eugene Wetlands Date: September 28, 9:00am-2:00pm Description: Wetlands site maintenance and restoration including invasive species removal, weeding, mulching and planting native plants. | 16 | Office: Vale District Project: Owyhee River Below the Dam Date: September 28, 7:00am-12:00pm Description: Collect trash and debris along the river and roadway, install signs and other maintenance tasks. |
| 14 | Office: Northwest Oregon District Project: Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area Date: September 28, 10:00am-3:00pm Description: Various projects including beach trash cleanup, invasive ivy, and beach grass pulling, graveling trail, and historic garden maintenance. | 17 | Office: National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Project: Oregon Trail Maintenance Date: September 28, 9:00-12:00pm Description: Weed and trash collection along the site’s 4 miles of trail, plus site interpretation throughout. |
| 15 | Office: Prineville District Project: Chimney Rock Campground Date: September 28, 10:00am-3:00pm Description: Improve campgrounds along the Lower Crooked River and maintain the Chimney Rock trail. Tasks will include table installation, weed pulling, installing interpretive signs and more. |