• $17.6 million allocated to enhance public lands and water monitoring
• Partnership with NRCS to assess rangeland conditions in 13 western states
• $7.4 million dedicated to monitoring streams, rivers, wetlands, and riparian areas
• Nearly 700 new monitoring sites for waterways across the West
• Investment aims to improve land and water health assessments

October 23, 2024 — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced a $17.6 million investment funded by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act to expand efforts to monitor, inventory, and assess baseline conditions of the nation’s public lands and waters, with a strong emphasis on water resources in the western United States.

Expanding Partnerships for Better Monitoring.

This investment includes a $7.6 million expanded inter-agency agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Starting this month, BLM and NRCS will collaborate to collect approximately 3,000 data points across 13 western states. This effort will establish baseline conditions and monitor changes over time in rangeland conditions, directly affecting water quality and availability.

Enhanced Water Resources Monitoring.

An additional $7.4 million is allocated for state partnerships to monitor the health of riparian zones, streams, rivers, and wetlands. BLM and its state partners plan to add nearly 700 new monitoring sites in streams and rivers and 625 locations in wetlands and riparian areas. These sites will provide data to better understand and manage water resources.

“This investment in public lands monitoring through the President’s Investing in America agenda will provide BLM with a more detailed picture of public rangeland health, which will in turn help us to better manage our public lands,” said BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning. “Partnerships like these with NRCS and other organizations put hundreds of people to work on our public lands each year and are critical to the health of our nation’s lands.”

Staffing and Data Analytics.

To support the influx of new data, BLM is investing $2.6 million in hiring additional staff. These positions will enhance the bureau’s capacity to interpret and analyze data, supporting evidence-based decision-making across various programs. The goal is to ensure the long-term health and resilience of public lands and water resources.

Guiding Restoration and Management Efforts.

The data collected will inform land use plans, wildlife habitat assessments, permitted use authorizations, restoration planning, and national monument planning. Field offices will utilize this information to assess the health of uplands, streams, rivers, wetlands, and riparian areas to identify where restoration efforts are most needed.

This investment aligns with BLM’s ongoing efforts to collect data that inform land health assessments—the primary method for understanding the condition of public lands and directing effective restoration activities.

Visit BLM.gov/AIM for more information on how the BLM uses data and partnerships to make better decisions.

Image:

Two people taking vegetation measurements in sagebrush habitat. BLM photo from press release.

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