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88047340 i k ] . 1 -4 §* It- r *3Ni if *Mfl Colorado HD 243 C6 L•362 1992 Bureau of Land Management TheGeneralLandOfficeandtheU.S.GrazingServiceweremergedin1946tocreatethe BureauofLandManagement(BLM).BLMadministersthoselandsstillremainingfromthe originalpublicdomain.Ofthe1.8billionacresofpubliclandoriginallyacquiredbytheUnited States,two-thirdswenttoindividuals,industries,andthestates.Ofthatremaining,muchwasset asidefornationalforests,wildliferefuges,nationalparksandmonuments,andotherpublic purposes.Today,BLMmanagesover269millionacres—aboutone-eighthofthenation. ThirtyyearsafterBLM'sformation,CongresspassedtheFederalLandPolicyand ManagementActof1976(FLPMA)mandatingthatpubliclandsbemanagedformultipleuseand sustainedyield. BLMisresponsibleformanagingthenation'spubliclandsandresourcesina combinationofwaysthatbestservetheneedsoftheAmericanpeople.Traditionalusesofthe publiclandshavebeengrazing,timberharvest,andmineralandenergydevelopment.Today,BLM alsoplaysanincreasingroleinotherareas,suchasrecreation,fishandwildlifehabitat,wilderness, andnaturalscenic,scientificandculturalvalues. TheBureauofLandManagementis organizedinfourlevels: theWashington, D.C.Office;StateOffices;DistrictOffices; andResourceAreaOffices. Inadditionto providinginformationtoCongress, personnelintheWashingtonOfficeprovide policyandbudgetguidancetoBLM'sState Directors. PersonnelinStateOfficesinteractwith stategovernmentsandlegislators.State Directorsareresponsibleforadministering nationalpolicy,providingspecificguidance onimplementinglawsandregulations,and monitoringandevaluatingprogresswithin thestate. BLMColoradohasfourDistrictOffices locatedinCraig,GrandJunction, Montrose,andCanonCity. District Managersmanagemajorprojectsand resourceswithintheirdistrictandprovide administrativeandstaffsupportto ResourceAreaOffices. ResourceAreaOfficesaregeographicallylocatedclosesttopubliclands.BLMemployeesat thisleveldotheon-the-groundwork,andareavailableforlocalissuesinvolvingaccessrights, firewoodpermits,grazingpermits,campgroundadministration,andahostofotherissues. •MuleDeer •RockArtatCanonPintadoHistoricDistrict •HikinguptoHandlesPeak •Settingthe4-cornersmonumentwhereColorado, Arizona,NewMexico,andUtahmeet j 0#***£ V''*•' ^ 3T£> f?aV73f& ,tb Minerals BecauseBLMhassubsurfacemineralsmanagementresponsibilitybeneathnationalforests, /tftfjL Indianreservations,andsomeprivatelands,BLMmanages27.3millionacresintheminerals programinColorado,overthreetimesitssurfaceacreageresponsibility. MineraldevelopmentisanimportantlandusewithinBLM'smultiple-useprogram.Mineral explorationandproductiononpubliclandinvolvesthreedistinctsystems: leasing,location,and materialsales. Leasing Oilandgas,coal,geothermal,sodium,andothersimilarmineralsareavailablethroughmineral leasing. Leasesareissuedforspecificperiodsoftime,withthelesseepayingrentalfeesand royaltiesonthemineralsproduced.Thesemineralsaregenerallyleasedthroughcompetitivesales. Applicationstoconductexplorationandproduction-relatedactivitiesarereviewedtoensure environmentalprotection,conformancewithlanduseplans,andmineralresourceconservation. Inspectionsensurethatoperationsarecarriedoutproperlyandthatallproductionisaccountedfor. Comparedtoproductionfromonshorefederallandsinotherstates,Coloradoranksfirstin carbondioxide,thirdinnaturalgas,andfourthinoilandcoal.Althoughnumeroushotspringsand geothermalfeaturesexistinColorado,nocommercialactivityhasoccurredyetonpubliclands. ThePiceanceBasininwesternColoradocontainsthelargestdepositsofhighgradeoilshaleinthe UnitedStates.Althoughconsiderabledevelopmentworkhasbeendone,nocommercialoperations currentlyexist.Thisareaalsocontainsmajornahcolite(sodium)reserves;initialoperationsto developthisresourcehavebegun. Minerals Location LocationinvolvesmineralslikegoldandsilverandisadministeredundertheGeneralMining Lawof1872. Minerslocateclaimsandpayannualfilingfees. Ifavaluabledepositisfound,the claimmaybepatentedandtitleobtainedtoboththemineralandsurfaceland.Themininglaw encouragescompaniestoself-initiateexplorationanddevelopmentandhasbeensuccessfulin providingdomesticsourcesformanycriticalandstrategicminerals.BLMreviewsapplicationsto conductexplorationanddevelopmenttoensurethatoperationsdonotunnecessarilyorunduly affecttheenvironmentorothermultipleuses.Inspectionsensurethatsurfacemanagement requirementsaremetandthattimelyreclamationoccurs. The1872MiningLawprovidestheopportunitytoexploreanddevelopmineraldepositson publiclands.BLMrecordsallminingclaimsfiledonpubliclandsandreceivesaffidavitsof assessmentworkandotherdocuments,thusprovidingacentrallocationforallColoradomining activityrecordsforfederalmineralestates. Panningforgoldcontinuestobepopularinthestate. Material Sales Commonsand,gravel,andotherconstructionandlandscapingmaterialsareavailableforsale atfairmarketvaluetoindividualsorthroughfree-usepermitstogovernmentagenciesand nonprofitorganizations. ^^ZTs Lands and Renewable Resources Landsand Realty BLMadministerslandexchangesandwithdrawals,issuesrights-of-wayacrosspubliclands, andgrantsleasesofpubliclandsundertheRecreationandPublicPurposesAct.Theseland activitiessupportBLMinitiatives,suchasRecreation2000andFishandWildlife2000,aswellas increasinglegalaccesstopubliclands.BLMissuesrights-of-wayfornaturalgaspipelines,access roads,communicationssites,andpowerlines.ExamplesofRecreationandPublicPurposesAct authorizationsacrossColoradoincludegolfcourses,schools,countymaintenanceshops,fire departments,andshootingranges. Planning Resourcemanagementplanningprovidesthebasisforevaluating,deciding,andcommunicating publiclanduses.Usingtheconceptsofmultipleuseandsustainedyield,BLMseekstomaximize resourcevaluesforbothpresentandfuturegenerations.ThelanduseplanspreparedbyBLMare calledResourceManagementPlans(RMPs).TheyarepreparedbyResourceAreaOfficesandtake aboutthreeyearstocomplete.Opportunitiesforpublicinvolvementarecontinuouswhile developingandimplementingtheRMP.DecisionsinanRMParedesignedtoguideandcontrol futurelandorresourcemanagementactionsandaredesignedtobeimplementedovera10-to20- yearperiod. ColoradohasbeentheBLMleaderinresourcemanagementplanning.GlenwoodSpringswas thefirstRMPinthenation.TheGlenwoodSpringsandKremmlingRMPswereamongsix"pilots" thatservedasguidesforallsubsequentRMPsinBLM.ThePiceanceBasinRMPpioneeredtheuse ofanautomatedgeographicinformationsystem(GIS)inBLMplanning.Inaddition,thecommonly acceptedmethodfordocumentingplanmaintenanceandamendmentsoriginatedinColorado. Forestry BLMhas2.9millionacresofforestedlandinColorado.Mostofthisland,2.3millionacres,is woodland. Landsreferredtoaswoodlandincludejuniper/pinyonacreages,wildernessstudy areas,andareasthatareinaccessibleornotcost-effectivefortimberharvest.Only600,000acres areavailableforcommercialuse(sawtimber,firewood,Christmastrees,etc.). Rangeland Management Rangelandmanagementbeganwhenthefirstsymptomsofimpropergrazingwererecognized nearly100yearsago. Mostconceptsoftheearlydayswereviewedfromtheperspectiveofthe livestockindustry.Today,BLMrangelandmanagersconsideramultitudeofresourcesand resourceusesonpubliclands,fromwildhorses,wildlifehabitatandwatershed,torecreation, wilderness,andminedlandreclamation.Issuesinvolvingresourceandresourceuseshavebecome morecomplex,requiringinnovativemanagementtechniques. Inadditiontoprovidingeconomicbenefitstoruralcommunities,livestockgrazingisnow consideredameanstoaccomplishresourcerecoveryandimprovement. Properlymanaged livestockgrazingisaneffectivetoolforimprovingvegetation,muchlikemowingayardor pruningafruittreeproperlyhelpstobringaboutmorevigorousgrowth.Inordertoensurethe healthoftherangeresource,BLMplacesahighpriorityonmatchingresourceusestothe capabilitiesoftheland. Colorado BLM 1992 Status Report State Director's Column WithinGovernmentoranyotherlargeorganization,thewheelsof changeturnveryslowly. Orso—itseems.In1992,BLMtookalong,hard lookathowwedoourbusiness thebusinessofprotectingandmanaging thenaturalresourcesfoundonpubliclands. 75DevelopedRecreationalSite 396,000AcresRecommendedf< ManyofyouhaveprobablyheardsomethingaboutBLM2015,an initiativedesignedtoprepareBLMforthemanagementandadministrative challengeswewillfaceoverthenext25years.Thegoalsaretoincreasethe efficiencyoftheagencybyeliminatingduplication,streamliningprocesses, reducingoverheadandmanagementcosts,andincreasingthenumberof operationalemployeesatthefieldlevel. ThecurrentfocusofBLM2015istoimprovethemajorprocesseswe usetomanagetheagency.Ninenationalteamshavebegunevaluatingsuch thingsascontracting,theBLM'sbudgetprocess,thewayswemeasure programperformance,andrelationshipswithlocalbusiness.Coloradohas theleadroleinexaminingthebudgetprocess,andisco-leadin redefiningtheroleofprogramleadersatalllevels.Theteamsarecharged withsimplifyingandstreamliningprocesses,andwithdevelopingplansthat canaddressrapidlychangingneedsandproposals. AlloftheBLM2015processescomplementColorado'sgoalofcommittingtoecosystemmanagement andtotalqualitymanagement. Ecosystemmanagementmeansthatwewillbeginlookingatthetotal landscapeinsteadoflookingateachprogramseparately,likewildlifeorforestry. Totalqualitymanagementisastrategyforcontinuouslyimprovingperformanceatalllevelsofthe BLMorganization. Itfocusesallourresources(people,money,time,andspace)onservingtheneedsof allourcustomersthroughcontinuouslyimprovingproductsandservices. Whatdoesallthismeantoyou? ItmeansamoreefficientwayofdoingourjobinColorado. Weall wouldliketoseechangeshappenovernight,butit'snotpracticalorprobablyevenagoodidea.Things arechangingslowly,butIfirmlybelievetheoutcomewillbeworththeprocess. G^^ oo\e^ Minerals In1992,BLMadministerednearly11,000leaseson7.8millionacresinColorado.Atotalof202 leaseswereofferedatfourcompetitiveleaseauctionsduring1992.Seventy-fiveoftheseleaseswere sold,generatingalmost$500,000inbids.Afterthepubliclandsareleasedforexplorationand development,BLMisresponsibleforinspectingdrillingandproductionoperationsonthoseleases. Thereare879producingoilwellsonfederalandIndianlandsinColorado,and2,508producinggas wells.In1992,weissued141drillingpermits,and97newwellsweredrilled.Over$40millionin royaltieswerecollectedfromthisproduction. BLMmanages94federalcoalleasesinColorado,primarilyinthenorthwestpartofthestate.In 1991,productionfromfederalcoalleasestotalledabout12.5milliontonswithamarketvalueof$241 million.Thiswasnearly71percentofallcoalproducedinColorado.Royaltiesonthisproduction exceeded$24million. Currently,thereareabout40,000miningclaimsonColorado'spubliclands.Asof1991,Colorado had325unpatentedoilshaleclaimscontaining48,000acres.Two-hundredandelevenoftheseclaims (32,000acres)areunderapplicationforpatents. Lands and Realty In1992,ninetractsofland,totalling7,744acres,wereacquiredthroughlandexchanges, donations,andLandandWaterConservationFundpurchases.Oneofthesedonationswasa4,900- acretractalongtheGoldBeltTourNationalBackCountryByway.Threelandexchangeswere completedwhichresultedintheacquisitionof1,886acresoflandandthedisposalof2,065acres. Fifteenaccesseasementswereacquired. — SevenRecreationandPublicPurposesleaseswereissuedin1992 fivewereshort-termrenewals forlandfills,onewasfortheDeerMountainDistrict'sfirestation,andthelastwasfortheClearCreek Conservationarea.OnepatentwasissuedfortheGrandEncampmentcampgroundnearCanonCity. Planning In1992,nineresourcemanagementplanswereinitiatedorcompletedthataddressemerging publiclandissuesandmanagementconcerns. Forestry In1992,BLMissued5,273permitsforthesaleof4,300cordsoffuelwood,5,200Christmastrees, 2,000seedlings,and1,000poundsofboughs. BLMalsoadministeredthesaleof3millionboardfeetof timber,conductedsitepreparationworkon237acres,planted55acres,andthinned30acresof commercialwoodlands. Rangeland Management Colorado's8.3millionacresofpubliclandsaredividedinto2,432grazingallotments.In1992, grazingpermitswereissuedtomorethan1,700livestockoperatorstograzeprimarilycattle,butalso horsesandsheep. Domesticlivestockconsumedover469,000animalunitmonthsofforage(the amountofforagenecessarytosustainonecowandonecalforitsequivalentforonemonth).The grazingfeefrom3-1-92to2-28-93was$1.92peranimalunitmonth. Wild Horses Coloradohasabout900wildhorses,ofwhich600residewithinfourherdmanagementareas.All herdareasweremonitored,andseveralspringsandfencesweremaintained.In1992,93horseswere gatheredfromColorado'spubliclands.Atotalof270wildhorsesandburroswereadoptedwithinthe statethroughBLM'sAdopt-A-Horseprogram. TheColoradoWildHorse-InmateProgramisapartnershipbetweenBLMandtheColorado DepartmentofCorrections.InmatesgentlewildhorsesattheCanonCityfacilitybeforethehorsesare adoptedbyprivatecitizens.Lastyear,theinmatesgentledover100horses.TheCanonCityfacility maintainedanaverageof200headpriortoshipmenttoBLMadoptioncenters. Fish and Wildlife In1992,theColoradoWildlifeViewingGuidewasdevelopedasaresultofapartnershipwiththe ColoradoWildlifeHeritageFoundationandotherstateandfederallandmanagementagencies.This guideidentifies110sitesinColoradowherevisitorscanviewwildlifeintheirnaturalsetting. TheBreedingBirdAtlasPartnershipisacooperativeeffortofvolunteersfromBLM,theAudubon Society,andstateandfederalagenciestosurveyanddocumentbreedingbirdsfoundinColorado.The survey,whichbeganin1987,isprojectedforcompletionin1994.Theinformationfromthebreeding birdatlasprojectwillassisttheColoradoPartnersinFlightconcernedwithNeotropicalmigrantbirds thatbreedinColoradoandwintersouthoftheU.S.border. TheHabitatPartnershipProgramisastatewideeffortinwhichlocallandowners,sportsmen, representativesfromlandmanagementagencies,andtheColoradoDivisionofWildlifedealwith resolvingbiggame,livestock,forage,andfenceconflicts.Majoremphasesare:(1)distributing winteringbiggamepopulationsawayfromprivatelandsthroughvegetationmanipulationprojectson BLMpubliclands,and(2)establishinglateseasondistributionhunts.HabitatPartnershipProgram effortsareunderwayintheMiddlePark,NorthPark,northwesternColorado,Gunnison,andSangre deCristoareas. Wilderness In1991,BLMcompletedthewildernessstudyprocessasmandatedbytheFederalLandPolicyand ManagementAct.InOctoberof1991,theSecretaryoftheInteriorrecommendedtothePresidentthat approximately396,000acresofColorado'spubliclandsbedesignatedbyCongressaswilderness. Cultural Resources BLM'saccomplishmentsincluded: (1)coordinatinganddevelopingmitigationplansforseveral largegaspipelines,includingTRANSCOandtheCIGproject;(2)continuingarchivalrecordationof historicpropertiesintheSanJuanMountains;(3)publishingan"AdventuresinthePast"brochure featuringsixprehistoricandhistoricsitesavailableforpublicenjoyment;and(4)dedicatingtheUte TrailnearGlenwoodSprings,whichwasajointBLM-ForestServiceproject. TheAnasaziHeritageCenter,locatednearDolores,becamethehomeoftheHeritageEducation Projectin1992.Thiseffortincludesdevelopingeducationalmaterials,trainingteachers,and coordinatingtheeffortsofstateandlocaleducatorstoteachchildrentheimportanceandvalueofour culturalheritage. Recreation In1992,BLMcontinueddevelopingnewrelationshipsandmaintainingexistingpartnershipswith localcommunities,usergroups,andindividuals.BLMmanagesportionsoffourbackcountryorscenic byways: theAlpineLoop,GoldBeltTour,Unaweep-TabeguacheScenicandHistoricByway,andLos CaminosAntiguosintheSanLuisValley.Thesebywaysaresuccessfuldueinlargeparttocooperation andsupportfromlocalcommunities. BLMrecentlysignedastatewideagreementwiththeSouthwestNaturalandCulturalHeritage AssociationthatenablesBLMofficestoprovideasalesoutletforinterpretiveandeducational materials.Thisagreementwillhelpprovidebetterinformationtopubliclandvisitors. TheUpperColoradoAllianceisanewpartnershipcomposedofindividuals,townrepresentatives, landowners,andotherinterestedcitizenswhoareconcernedaboutthefuturemanagementofthe UpperColoradoRiver.In1993,theUpperColoradoAlliancewillbegindevelopingrecreationsites andtrailswithintherivercorridorthatstretchesfromtheheadwatersnearKremmlingtoDinosaur NationalMonument. BLMisalsocontinuingtodevelopthetrailsprogram.Acrossthestate,BLMisworkingwithuser groupstoidentifymountainbike,hiking,andoff-highwayvehicletrails.In1992,thetownofRangely, workingwithBLM,identifiedandpostedsignsfora177-mile-looptrailsouthoftown. Riparian Areas Atotalof218riparianimprovementprojectswerecompletedin1992.Activitiesincludedwillow planting,salt-cedarcontrol,bankstabilizationmeasures,instreamstructuresforgradecontrol,and wetlanddevelopment.ManyoftheseprojectswerecompletedwiththehelpofBLMpartners, includingenvironmentalgroups,theColoradoDivisionofWildlife,universities,andlocallandowners. TheTrapperCreekRiparianRestorationproject,completedinMay1992,isanexampleofoneof thesecooperativeefforts.ThisprojectinvolvedBLMandTroutUnlimitedvolunteerswhorebuilt ninelogdropstructures,builtonenewinstreamrockstructure,repairedtwomilesoflivestock exclosurefences,planted1,500willowsalongTrapperCreek,andbuiltandinstalled30exclosuresto protectnewly-plantedwillows. Cadastral Survey In1992,throughpartnershipswiththeU.S.ForestService,BureauofIndianAffairs,Bureauof Reclamation,andthepublic,BLMresurveyed998milesofboundaryandset2,583survey monuments. BLMremonumentedthehistoricFourCorners,theonlymonumentintheUnitedStates markingthecommoncorneroffourstates—Colorado,NewMexico,Arizona,andUtah. Fire Management- In1992,350acreswereburnedby48human-causedfires;1,832acreswereburnedby479 lightning-causedfires. Inadditiontofightingwildfireonpubliclands,BLMusedprescribedburnsto achieveplannedresourcemanagementobjectivesinrange,wildlife,forestry,andotherprograms. About6,104acresweretreatedwith27prescribedfiresin1992. Engineering- BLMColorado'sengineerscontinuedimplementationoftheLegacy99Initiativeduring1992. Thisinitiativecallsforrehabilitatingandimprovingfacilitiesonpubliclandsby1999,whichisthe 150thanniversaryoftheestablishmentoftheDepartmentoftheInteriorin1849.Coloradofacilities rehabilitatedin1992include: theaircraftrampattheWesternSlopeFireCoordinationCenter, KeystoneRoad,AnasaziHeritageCenterInterpretiveWalkway,CraigDistrictOfficeParkingLot, FAARoad,FivePointsRecreationSite,Highway9RecreationSite,CatamountRecreationSite, RadiumRecreationSite,CochetopaCanyonRecreationSite,GypsumRecreationSite,Wolcott RecreationSite,HorsePastureRecreationSite,andFourCornersMonument.Newconstructionin 1992includeddevelopmentofrecreationsitesontheDoloresRiveratGypsumValleyandBedrock, andconstructionofaWatchableWildlifeSiteontheArkansasRiver. Volunteers Over2,200peoplevolunteeredtoassistBLMin1992.Volunteeringisameansbywhichthe generalpubliccanassistBLMonpriorityprojectsandlearnmoreaboutthediversityofworkdonein thestate. VolunteersworkedinallofBLMColorado'sprograms,donatingatotalof108,000hours valuedat$1.4million. Wild Horses Coloradohasfourwildhorseherdmanagementareas: Piceance-EastDouglasCreekwestof Meeker,SandWashintheextremenorthwesternpartofthestate,LittleBookcliffsnortheastof GrandJunction,andSpringCreeksouthwestofMontrose.BLMmanagestheseherdsas permanentresidentsinthesefourareas.Sincethehorseshavefewnaturalpredators,theherdsizes canexpandbeyondthecapabilityoftherangetosupportthem.BLMthenroundsuptheexcess animalsandmakesthemavailableforadoptionbyqualifiedprivatecitizens. FishandWildlife Thediverseecosystemsandmosaic landscapesonBLMpubliclandsprovidehabitat forover600speciesoffishandwildlife,including 100specialstatusplantsandanimals.Colorado isrecognizednationallyforitsstreamfishingand biggamehunting. BLM'swildlifehabitatmanagementgoalis toensurethenaturalabundanceanddiversityof fishandwildliferesourcesonpubliclandsby restoring,maintaining,andenhancinghabitatproductivityandquality.Priorityprogramsinclude WatchableWildlifeViewingAreas,BigGameHabitatWinterRange,ColdWaterFisheries, RiverineRiparianCommunities,andSpecialStatusSpeciesHabitats. Wilderness BLMhascompletedthewildernessstudyprocessasmandatedbytheFederalLandPolicy ManagementAct.InOctober1991,theSecretaryoftheInteriorrecommendedtothePresidentof theUnitedStatesthatapproximately396,000acresofColorado'spubliclandsbedesignatedby Congressaswilderness. Cultural Resources TheBLMColoradoculturalresources programisdiverseandencompassesprehistoric sitesdatingfrom12,000yearsago.Thereare morethan50,000recordedprehistoricsiteson Colorado'spubliclands.Inaddition,thereare numerousnationallysignificanthistoricsitesthat representmining,transportation,andwestern settlement.Coloradohassix"Adventuresinthe Past"sites/toursavailabletothepublic. TheAnasaziHeritageCenter,nearthetown ofDolores,housesseveralmillionartifactsandincludesexhibitareasandalaboratoryforstudying prehistory.TheHeritageCenteristhefocusofBLM'sHeritageEducationProject,whichis designedtoenhanceappreciationofourculturallegacy. Inadditiontoarchaeologicalandhistoricresources,Coloradoisthelocationforseveral internationallyknownpaleontologicalquarries.GardenParkisoneofthemostsignificantlocalities fordinosaursintheworld,whiletheRabbitValleysitehasyieldedseveralnewspeciesofdinosaurs. Recreation BLMColoradohasoutstandingrecreationalopportunities.Inadditiontotheuniquediversity andthewide-openspacesofthepubliclands,BLMadministers75developedrecreationsites,59 hikingtrails,27mountainbiketrails,115motorbiketrails,104all-terrain-vehicletrails,185four- wheel-drivetrails,and50snowmobiletrails.BLMColoradomanagestwoNationalBackCountry BywaysandportionsoftwoStateScenicByways.BLMalsomanagesoutstandingriverrecreation ontheArkansas,Colorado,Yampa,Eagle,San Miguel,RioGrande,Gunnison,andDoloresrivers. RiparianAreas BLMColoradomanagesnearly47,000acresof riparianareasassociatedwithover5,500milesof perennialandintermittentstreams,plusabout 11,000acresofwetlandsassociatedwithmarshes, seeps,andsprings. Riparianareas,whicharethe singlemostimportanthabitatforfishandwildlife intheWest,aretheareasofvegetationnear streams,springs,lakes,andothersourcesofwater. Soil,Air,Water Soil,water,andairrepresentthebasicresourcesuponwhichallresourcesandusesdepend. BLMprotectssoilsbypreventingorreducingwindandwatererosionandbyavoiding developmentsincriticalorfragilesoilareas.Waterresourcesareprotectedbyidentifyingand quantifyingclaimstowateronpubliclands,recordingreservedwaterrights,andobtaining nonreservedrightsundertheState'sadministrativeprocedures.BLMprotectstheairqualityof publiclandsbyensuringauthorizedactivitiescomplywithStateairqualitystandards. Operations Cadastral Survey BLMisthelegallandsurveyingagencyfortheU.S.Government.TheLandOrdinanceAct of1785,passedbytheContinentalCongress,createdthebasisforourlandtenuresystemand limitedtheofficiallandsurveyauthoritytooneagency. CadastralLandSurveyorsidentify monumentsanddocumentthelegalboundariesbetweenpublicandprivatelandsforboththe surfaceandthemineralestates. Equipmentandtechniqueshavechangedinthelast200years, buttheagency'sresponsibilitiesandlegalrequirementshavenot. Fire Management BLMjoinswithotherfederalagenciestosuppresswildfiresonpubliclandsnationwide.In additiontofightingwildfires,BLMconductsprescribedburnstoachieveplannedresource managementobjectivesinrange,wildlife,forestry,andotherprograms.BLMpersonnelalso providefirepreventionmessagesthroughvariouseducationalprograms.