Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative receives $24.6 million grant from BLM
Organization:
Media Contact:
SALT LAKE CITY — The Bureau of Land Management has awarded a total of $24.6 million to the Utah Department of Natural Resources to continue the collaborative efforts to restore and preserve watersheds across the state.
The funding will enhance wildlife habitat across a variety of ecosystems, focusing on:
• improving riparian areas through invasive species removal
• constructing wildlife guzzlers for mule deer and bison
• implementing habitat improvement treatments
• ensuring safe fish passage for Bonneville Cutthroat Trout
The Bureau of Land Management is pleased to continue working with the state to improve wildlife habitat across Utah,” said BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning. “This investment will further restoration goals for lands and waters that will benefit wildlife and people alike.”
This growing partnership with the Utah Department of Natural Resources will expand the scope of the BLM’s conservation work and deliver substantial benefits to wildlife and the residents of Utah. The initial funding was awarded on Aug. 20, 2024, with additional funding awarded on Sep. 23, 2024.
“DNR’s long-standing relationship with BLM through Utah’s Watershed Initiative has been one of the country's most successful active land management partnerships,” said DNR Executive Director Joel Ferry. “This additional funding will help benefit watersheds in Utah to help improve wildlife habitat and water quality and reduce catastrophic wildfire.”
Roughly $1.39 million is coming from the Biden-Harris administration’s Inflation Reduction Act to advance the wildlife habitat restoration.
Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative is a partnership-based program focusing on improving watershed health, biological diversity, water quality and yield, habitat for wildlife, and vegetation resilience due to drought and wildfires. Since its establishment in 2006, the Watershed Restoration Initiative has undertaken 2,811 projects, restoring and rehabilitating over 2.65 million acres.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.