WASHINGTON, DC (February 9, 2026) — Today, the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, the official Congressionally chartered charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), announced nearly $4 million in new grant funding to support 20 projects across 10 states, leveraging $3.9 million to generate nearly $8 million in total impact for local communities. This is the Foundation’s largest round of grant funding to date. These projects will expand recreation access, strengthen stewardship, and create new opportunities for people to connect with America’s public lands and waters.
From building new campgrounds and improving popular off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation sites that support the EXPLORE Act, to piloting innovative technologies like virtual fencing that support ranchers and improve rangeland health, these projects will strengthen the BLM’s impact across the West and support local communities.
“BLM manages some of America’s hardest working lands that support wildlife, world–class recreation, and local economies on which millions of Americans rely every day,” said I Ling Thompson, CEO of the Foundation for America’s Public Lands. “The Foundation is proud to direct much–needed resources to unlock support for community-driven, locally informed projects across the West.”
These projects demonstrate public-private partnerships can deliver outsized benefits for America’s public lands, particularly when projects are community-driven and locally informed.
When completed, these initiatives will:
- Restore lands and water throughout the west, including deploying innovative tools such as virtual fencing across more than 165,000 acres of working lands, providing adaptive management tools to ranchers that monitor animal welfare, protect sensitive habitats, contribute to post-fire recovery, and support overall rangeland health;
- Improve nearly 17 miles of trails, including the newest multi-use trail system in San Juan County, Colorado, winding through the rugged Rocky Mountains near the picturesque mountain town of Silverton; and,
- Support 16 recreation sites that fuel local economies and expand recreation access for residents and visitors across the West.
The 20 Foundation-Supported Projects:
Improving Recreational Shooting Sites in Arizona
Arizona | Phoenix
Recreational target shooting is a long-standing tradition on Arizona’s public lands. This project improves safety and access at heavily used shooting sites through new infrastructure, including an ADA-accessible walkway. These upgrades support responsible recreation today while helping to establish sustainable, fee-supported sites for the future.
Finalizing Swasey Recreation Area Expansion
California | Redding
This project completes a critical connection between the Swasey and Mule Mountain trail systems—an outcome that would not have been possible without the Foundation’s support. Funding enables the construction of 1.5 miles of new non-motorized trail, expanding access for mountain bikers and other users. The expansion strengthens the local outdoor economy and increases wildfire resilience near the wildland–urban interface.
Deploying Virtual Fencing on the Hunter Valley Mountain
University of California, Agricultural and Natural Resources
California | Mariposa County
This project brings precision grazing to the recently fire-impacted Hunter Valley Mountain allotment using virtual fencing. By keeping cattle concentrated within targeted areas, the technology will support focused fuels management and will test how the producer can better manage and gather their cattle in a large allotment.
Supporting Baker’s Park Multiuse Trail
Colorado | Silverton
A decade in the making, this project advances a first-of-its-kind 30-mile natural– surface trail system in San Juan County. Foundation funding supports construction of 10.7 miles of trail, expanding year-round recreation and outdoor access in a rugged mountain landscape. The result is a lasting community asset shaped by deep local collaboration.
Leveraging Aquatic Restoration to Address Wildfire Risk and Impacts on BLM Lands
Colorado & Utah | Colorado River Basin
This project demonstrates how healthy waterways can reduce wildfire risk across the Colorado River Basin. By restoring aquatic systems, partners will lower post-fire recovery costs, improve ecosystem resilience, and support research to fill critical knowledge gaps. The work creates a scalable, multi-benefit restoration model for the West.
Telling the Story of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area
Loxahatchee River Historical Society
Florida | Jupiter
This project brings the story of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area to life. Funding completes the design of 16 interpretive panels that highlight the site’s history, ecology, and conservation value — enriching the visitor experience and inspiring deeper stewardship and connection to place.
Increasing Sustainability of Grazing and Resource Management on Bar4m Ranch
Idaho | Lemhi County
Virtual fencing will be deployed across nearly 94,000 acres to protect sensitive upland and riparian habitats. The project pairs on-the-ground implementation with an economic analysis, comparing traditional grazing practices to those deployed by virtual fencing. The insights gained will help producers and land managers assess potential operational efficiencies from flexible grazing strategies.
Deploying Innovative REALM Virtual Fencing in Big Creek
Idaho | Custer County
This project supports the University of Idaho’s field testing of the REALM virtual fencing ear tag technology. Designed as a lower-cost, lower-power alternative to traditional virtual fencing systems, the project aims to test the technology’s ability to improve grazing management while reducing cattle conflicts near campgrounds in real world settings.
Implementing Virtual Fence Technology to Help Post-Fire Restoration in the Pahsimeroi Valley
Idaho | Owyhee County
Following major wildfires south of Boise, this project uses virtual fencing to guide targeted grazing and establish fuel breaks. The work supports post-fire restoration while reducing future wildfire risk and evaluating costs and labor, generating real-world data to inform broader adoption of virtual fencing.
Installing Educational Kiosks Across Montana
Montana | Statewide
Educational kiosks will be installed at high-use OHV access points across Montana’s public lands. The signage delivers clear, research-based guidance where recreation overlaps with sensitive wildlife habitat and cultural resources — reducing user conflicts and strengthening long-term stewardship.
Stewarding Red Rock National Conservation Area
Nevada | Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon is a world-class climbing destination with visitation skyrocketing and outpacing on-site staffing. This project funds Climber Stewards during peak season to deliver Leave No Trace education, resource protection messaging, and preventative search-and-rescue outreach — resulting in safer climbing and stronger stewardship in a heavily loved landscape.
Combatting Drought through Precision Grazing on Massey Ranch
Sierra Soil and Water Conservation District
New Mexico | Hidalgo County
Virtual fencing will work to enable more flexible grazing strategies on drought-prone rangelands in New Mexico. By monitoring livestock in real time, this project better enables a 7th generation family ranch and farm to manage water availability, support their operations more efficiently and protect sensitive vegetation.
Creating Campgrounds at McCoy Flats
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Utah | Vernal
This project creates the first overnight camping opportunities at the popular McCoy Flats mountain bike area. Youth Corps crews will construct new campground with ADA-accessible and group sites, easing pressure on nearby protected areas while expanding recreation access and supporting tourism.
Improving Fivemile Pass OHV Access
Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks
Utah | Cedar Valley
With more than 85,000 visitors each year, Fivemile Pass is one of nation’s most loved OHV destinations. This project improves roads and facilities while strategically relocating amenities to reduce impacts of disperse use and lay the groundwork for future campgrounds and long-term site sustainability.
Reducing Flood Risk on Mill Creek
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Utah | Moab
Mill Creek has long been a vital water source for the Moab community. Following the Pack Creek Fire however, the watershed has faced erosion, invasive species, and habitat loss contributing to flooding events that have impacted the city. This project restores streambanks and native vegetation to protect infrastructure, reduce wildfire risk, and strengthen watershed health.
Removing Woody Invasive Species Along the Escalante River
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Utah | Escalante River
This project restores nearly 2,000 acres of riparian habitat by removing invasive species such as tamarisk and Russian olive. The work improves water flow, reduces wildfire risk, and restores natural river processes. Ultimately resulting in a healthier, more resilient watershed.
Restoring the Lower White River
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Utah | Lower White River
A comprehensive, multi-partner restoration effort targeting invasive vegetation, degraded channels, and habitat loss. Working across a diverse coalition of partners, this project improves stream flow and riparian health while supporting native fish and wildlife. The work reduces wildfire risk and strengthens long-term watershed resilience.
Funding a First-of-its-Kind ADA Trail in Wyoming
Green River Greenbelt Task Force
Wyoming | Green River
This project completes the region’s first ADA-accessible trail. Funding adds interpretive signage and revegetation along the 4.1-mile Skyline Trail, pairing inclusive outdoor access paired with storytelling that highlights the area’s cultural and natural history.
Constructing the Johnny Behind the Rocks Trail
Wyoming | Lander
This family-friendly trail guides visitors through striking high-desert landscapes while avoiding sensitive resources. Designed as a visible home-loop, the trail allows children to explore independently and safely. This trail will help children and explorers of all ages to build skills, confidence, and a lifelong connection to public lands.
Conserving Core Sagebrush Habitat by Managing Invasive Grasses
Wyoming | Carbon County
Invasive annual grasses threaten native habitats and increase wildfire risk across southwestern Wyoming, a critical, healthy anchor of the sagebrush ecosystem. This project reinforces local efforts to coordinate cross-boundary investment and management, protecting one of the West’s most iconic landscapes.
About the Projects:
These projects are made possible through public-private partnerships and private charitable donations. This support helps catalyze additional investments in recreation, habitat restoration and community stewardship across BLM-managed lands and waters. The Foundation is deeply grateful to the donors whose generosity and continued support make these projects, and many more, possible.
About the Foundation
As the official charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Foundation for America’s Public Lands serves as a convener, partner, and fundraising catalyst to help ensure the health and stewardship of America’s public lands and waters today, and for the future. The Foundation has funded 50 projects and deployed more than $11 million in impact since it started grantmaking in 2024.
To learn more about the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, visit americaslands.org.
