Prineville BLM hosting two National Public Lands Day events

The Bureau of Land Management’s Prineville District is hosting two National Public Lands Day events in Central Oregon this September.

The BLM will be partnering with the Malheur National Forest, as well as local search and rescue and OHV groups on Saturday, Sept. 14 for a cleanup at the Little Canyon Mountain OHV play area and hiking trail near Canyon City. A second event on Saturday, Sept. 28 will focus on Crooked River campground maintenance south of Prineville. Both events are family-friendly and open to everyone.

Established in 1994 and held annually on or about the fourth Saturday in September, National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort. It celebrates the connection between people and green space in their community, inspires environmental stewardship, and encourages use of open space for education, recreation, and general health.

Volunteers wanting to help on the Little Canyon Mountain OHV Cleanup/Trail Maintenance project should arrive at 9 a.m. at the Little Canyon Mountain OHV staging area. Work will include cleaning up several dump sites at the Little Canyon Mountain OHV area and replacing/installing BLM signs that have been damaged or removed.

Volunteers will also be working with Malheur National Forest staff to clean up trails and parking areas. To get to this project area from Highway 395, head east on Main Street in Canyon City and then south of Canyon City East Road. The OHV staging area is 1.2 miles down this road and on the right.

Volunteers can join in with local groups such as the Band of Brothers and Central Oregon Flyfishers to help clean up campgrounds along the Lower Crooked River south of Prineville, Work will include painting picnic tables, picking up trash, pulling weeds and helping with a variety of small projects throughout the campgrounds in this stretch of the river. Participants should arrive at 9 a.m. at the Chimney Rock Campground, approximately 16 miles south of Prineville on State Highway 27.

For both events, participants should bring lunch and plan for a variety of weather conditions. While tools and trash bags will be provided, volunteers should wear sturdy shoes and bring gloves. The BLM will provide light snacks and beverages. For more information please contact the Prineville BLM at (541) 416-6700.