File:Donner und Blitzen Wild and Scenic River (13412042654).jpg

The BLM’s National Conservation Lands, also known as the National Landscape Conservation System, contain some of America’s most spectacular landscapes. Consisting of about 27 million acres of public lands set aside for their special recreational, cultural, scientific, and other values, the National Conservation Lands feature over 880 National Monuments, National Conservation Areas, Wilderness Areas, Wilderness Study Areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and National Historic and Scenic Trails. And with the passage of the Omnibus Public Land Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-11), oversight of these very special lands – which were administratively established in 2000 – is now established in law. But did you know the Oregon and Washington BLM plays a pretty special role in the administration of these super-cool spots? Tis’ true.

In Oregon and Washington the BLM manages 127 different National Conservation Lands which include two National Monuments, one Cooperative Management and Protection Area, one legislated Outstanding Natural Area, nine Wilderness Areas, 86 Wilderness Study Areas, two National Scenic Trails, and two National Historic Trails. While that’s a pretty nice feather in the cap, the real icing on the cake (…to mix metaphors) is the management of 25, yes 25 Wild & Scenic Rivers. Wild and Scenic Rivers are designated by Congress or the Secretary of the Interior under the authority of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 to protect remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other values and to preserve these rivers in their free-flowing condition. While not the most acres, or the most river miles, these 25 Wild & Scenic Rivers, out of 69 that the BLM manages nationally, represent the largest number managed by any BLM state.

These 25 Wild & Scenic River comprise over 800 of the BLM’s roughly 2,400 miles of rivers managed nationally, or 33 percent.