SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management is working to maintain services to the American people and our stakeholders, consistent with evolving guidance provided by the Center for Disease Control and state and local health authorities. The health and safety of our visitors and staff remains the number one priority of the BLM. In accordance with the State of California’s recent regional stay at home order, the BLM will continue to monitor and evaluate the need to close some developed campgrounds in coordination with local, state and federal agency partners, to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
Visitors may continue to enjoy their BLM managed trails and open spaces in California while following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local and state public health authorities. Social distancing recommendations are extremely important to reducing the transmission of COVID-19 and may require that visitors avoid public lands during high-use times, such as weekends. Please limit any group activities to members of your household. At all times, maintain a distance of 6 feet or more from people outside of your household and wear a mask when social distancing is not possible.
The BLM urges visitors to do their part when visiting your public lands as some visitor services may be limited due to closures and staff safety. The following actions are recommended:
- Plan ahead by checking this website for the latest information on temporary closures or reduced amenities
- Bring your own supplies such as disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper
- Pack out your trash
- Reduce the handling of cash by paying recreation fees through recreation.gov, or with a check, where available
Providing for recreation opportunities and access to public lands during this time are just some of the many activities BLM California staff continues to perform each and every day. We recognize that opportunities to enjoy public lands, especially during these times, is vitally important to the nation and our neighbors.
If you’d like to contact or do business with the BLM, please do so by email or phone whenever possible. Contact information is available on our website at www.blm.gov/California.
For more information on the status of recreation and visitor services across BLM-managed public lands in California, please visit: https://www.blm.gov/site-page/blm-california-covid-19-updates or contact local offices at: https://on.doi.gov/38ZT5OI
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in the 11 Western states and Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In fiscal year 2018, the diverse activities authorized on BLM-managed lands generated $105 billion in economic output across the country. This economic activity supported 471,000 jobs and contributed substantial revenue to the U.S. Treasury and state governments, mostly through royalties on minerals.
Wouldn’t it be lovely if the BLM cut out the promos and actually monitored and enforced penalties for the extensive illegal camping on BLM land NNE of Mustang Mesa . On any given morning half a dozen or more vehicles access 395 off the pole line roads leading to extensive… Read more »
Dear Lydia, The campfires are not legal at this time. Staying for more than 14 days is not legal. The garbage left behind is a violation of the law. The latrines sound like an excellent alternative to excrement and used toilet paper behind every sagebrush in the vicinity. But unless… Read more »
OUCH !
When I want to feel all warm and fuzzy I always pull up a Sierra Wave comment section…
Donna,BLM and others Let’s face it. The people and visitors are going to do as they please when they embark on and into the public BLM land,just like they did back in the early Summer when campgrounds were being shut down and they crowded into the Alabama Hills,giving the area… Read more »
Steve Nelson and Sherri from the BLM Bishop office should be fired, they have failed the eastern sierra community. Using covid as excuse for not doing their jobs once again. From the toilet paper littered Alabama Hills, to Bishop in the happy/sad’s, in the buttermilks, from the lakes basin in… Read more »
And please respect posted no parking and or no trespassing signs that private property owners have posted. Do not block driveways, do not try to move items placed as a deterrent for those looking to park on a single lane, podunk road, please don’t throw or leave trash laying around… Read more »
Dear Donna, Where are people being “allowed” to “walk” on PUBLIC LAND where it “previously was not allowed”? And perhaps you could also explain why private property owners need to be asked permission for the PUBLIC to use PUBLIC LAND? And before you and the rest of he gang come… Read more »
In regards to where I’m referring to, all I will say is that the property has been in my husband’s family for approximately 7 generations. When it was originally acquired California wasn’t what it has become (over populated). I actually had a car of complete strangers drive up my driveway… Read more »
I did not address the “permission” factor. It’s not that I’d expect any government agency to at least ask those residents who do pay heavy taxes how they feel about the tremendous increase in traffic on a road that is not properly maintained by the county. It’s a beaten up,… Read more »