BLM Utah Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument/Kanab Field Office Visitor Interpretation, Education, and Public Outreach Project

Description

Background: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) and Kanab Field Office (KFO) are located in southern Utah⿿s red rock country. GSENM was established in 1996 as the first national monument to be administered by BLM. GSENM and regions of KFO are part of the National Landscape Conservation System. The combined BLM offices encompass approximately 2.4 million acres. The physical environment includes geologic formations from the Permian to the Quaternary, including extensive Cretaceous formations rich in paleontological resources. The natural environment includes a wide variety of terrestrial ecosystems from low-lying desert (elevation ca. 1300 m) to ponderosa pine and aspen forests (elevation ca. 2800 m), and aquatic ecosystems from ephemeral desert streams to perennial streams (primarily in the Escalante River watershed), with associated ephemeral-to-perennial springs, seeps, and riparian areas. Exceptionally diverse flora and fauna are present, including those from both warm and cold deserts, with numerous endemics. In addition, GSENM provides visitors a wide variety of recreational experiences including hunting, horseback riding, canyoneering, camping, mountain biking, backpacking, sightseeing, and exploring on ATVs. Many of the recreational destinations are located in the Monument⿿s remote backcountry, accessed on rough unmaintained natural surface routes requiring travel via four-wheel drive vehicles, 4X4 vehicles, horseback, or on foot. The remote and rugged character of these BLM areas attracts researchers from around the world to this amazing outdoor laboratory. The BLM supports four visitor centers and two contact stations in communities surrounding the management areas including Big Water, Cannonville, Escalante, Glendale, Kanab, and Paria. These centers provide visitor orientation, interpretive exhibits, and education programs for regional residents and traveling public. Exhibits and educational programs are based on the scientific and special character of the surrounding BLM landscapes. Visitation to these centers continues to increase approximately 10% a year, reaching over 230,000 in 2017, and generating sales of approximately $400,000 in the same year. Objectives: In support of the Department of the Interior⿿s priorities, the BLM Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (GSENM) and Kanab Field Office (KFO) are seeking to enter into a partnership with an organization to enhance and expand their interpretive, educational, and public outreach mission and support of BLM programs. The partnership will help BLM⿿s effort to meet public outreach and environmental education objectives set forth by the BLM 15-Year Strategy, GSENM/KFO management plan goals and objectives, and help BLM create a Conservation Stewardship Legacy Second only to Teddy Roosevelt. Through the addition of ⿿boots on the ground⿝ organization staff and volunteers to help coordinate and implement these crucial BLM programs, and with the addition of organization financial and in-kind resources, BLM will be better able to foster technical advancements for digital information disbursement, by modernizing infrastructure, and thereby providing greater access to outdoor recreational opportunities. In addition, organization resources will help BLM provide better quality service to the public, generate budget and operational efficiencies, provide veteran and regional employment, and help boost local economies. Further, the relationships this partnership will generate within the local communities will help build trust, improve communication, and foster community stewardship of and appreciation for the richness of the region⿿s lands and resources. This project will provide opportunities for an organization to support up to ten positions that will inform and educate the public about how to access BLM recreational areas and facilities; scientific studies conducted on GSENM/KFO; Leave-no-Trace, Tread Lightly, Respect and Protect, and other conservation programs; and develop, coordinate, and help facilitate youth education programs and public outreach events. Working cooperatively will allow both partners to fulfill their missions and strategic goals and will help the public better understand and appreciate the BLM⿿s multiple use mission, and thereby encourage the public to voluntary comply with BLM regulations. All awards under this funding opportunity must benefit the general public:In keeping with the intent of the Secretary of the Interior⿿s priority of ⿿Creating a Conservation Stewardship Legacy Second only to Teddy Roosevelt⿝, the proposed agreement will benefit the public by helping the awarded organization fulfill their public service mission(s) to support and fund education, research, interpretation, conservation, and visitor services within the public lands in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah. In achieving their mission, the organization will help the public better understand and support BLM⿿s multiple use and land stewardship mission, and gain appreciation for agency efforts to conserve natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. As a result, the agency is better able to retain these resources for the public benefit. In addition, the partnership support of agency interpretive, education, and public outreach programs will increase access to and opportunities for the public to interact with recreational, natural, and cultural resources, adding value and enjoyment to the experience the public receives on their public lands.

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