BLM's Restoration Landscapes

Introduction

The Bureau of Land Management has selected 21 Restoration Landscapes where we will focus investments in ecosystem restoration and the economic resilience of communities that depend on these lands to support their livelihoods and traditions.

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s  Investing in America  agenda, the BLM will infuse $161 million into improving the health of these landscapes to better provide clean water, habitat for fish and wildlife, opportunities for recreation, and more resilience to wildfire and drought.

Resilient public lands are critical to our ability to manage for multiple use and sustained yield. Once-in-a-generation funding from the  Inflation Reduction Act  will be directed to landscapes where concentrated, strategic investment can make the most difference for communities and public resources under the BLM’s management. 

In addition to projects supported with Inflation Reduction Act funding, the BLM will prioritize projects funded under the  Bipartisan Infrastructure Law  in these landscapes – to maximize the return on these once-in-a-generation investments, enhance durability and multiply the benefits of the restoration efforts.

As the nation’s largest public lands manager, the BLM has restored millions of acres of public lands. Healthy ecosystems are critical to the BLM’s ability to manage public lands for multiple use and sustained yield, which is the core of our mission.

Work in Restoration Landscapes will coordinate and sequence different types of investments and treatments from across the BLM – including fuels, rangelands, wildlife, forestry, aquatics and recreation – to address the multiple threats that are limiting ecosystem function on our public lands.

Concentrating Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding in these landscapes will more efficiently engage partnerships and further multiply the return on these investments on behalf the American people – to pass on these lands to future managers and future generations of public lands users in better condition than we find them in today.

Restoration Landscapes Map Tour

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1

ALASKA | Birch Creek and Fortymile Wild & Scenic River

These landscapes in Eastern Interior Alaska contain nationally significant cultural, recreational, historic, archaeological, geological and wildlife values that the BLM has been working to conserve for decades. Placer mining is part of the region’s cultural heritage but has also left behind degraded streams, impaired water quality, and hazardous materials. Restoration investments, which contribute to a significant cross-agency initiative to restore salmon habitat in the Yukon, Kuskokwim and Norton Sound region, will better monitor land and water condition, improve water quality and aquatic habitat, and ensure safe access for recreation. These investments further the work of the Department of the Interior’s Gravel to Gravel Keystone Initiative.  

$5 million | 7,053,215 acres | 2,464,142 BLM acres 

2

MONTANA | The Hi-Line Sagebrush Anchor, North Central Montana

Some of the largest intact grasslands left in North America support numerous at-risk bird species, hold priority habitat for greater sage-grouse and critical winter and migration habitat for elk, deer and pronghorn. The shortgrass prairie of north central Montana is an extremely popular destination for hunting, fishing and bird watching. As drought continues, restoration investments will improve mesic and woody draw habitats, increase native plant diversity, and remove encroaching conifers and anthropogenic features that threaten sage-grouse survival.

$6.76 million | 2,558,386 acres | 1,176,321 BLM acres 

Contact:  Erica Husse 

3

MONTANA | Blackfoot-Clark Fork  

Forest watersheds, lands with associated treaty rights and aboriginal connections, and places for outdoor recreation come together where two storied rivers merge. Big game, grizzly bears, Canada lynx and bull trout habitat have felt effects of past industrial logging and the growing pressures of climate change. Restoration here, in young to medium-age forests, decommissioning legacy roads, and repairing perennial streams will put people to work creating healthy forestland and wildlife habitat on the edge of one of the state’s largest cities, and ensure that the Blackfoot’s tributaries deliver clear, cold water to one of the state’s most beloved rivers.

$9.54 million | 2,643,875 acres | 164,904 BLM acres 

Contact:  Erica Husse 

4

MONTANA | Missouri Headwaters, Southwest Montana 

Bridging two of the West’s iconic landscapes – the Greater Yellowstone and the Crown of the Continent – this area encompasses high-elevation mountain ranges, expansive sage-steppe and large, productive valleys that serve as a stronghold for wildlife that have disappeared from much of their historic range. This unique ecosystem is home to grizzly bear, westslope cutthroat, Arctic grayling, pronghorn, greater sage-grouse and whitebark pine. Sagebrush grasslands anchor ecological systems and multi-generational family ranches intermixed with public land that supports vital recreational economies. Investments in restoration today will ensure these systems support people and wildlife alike into the future.  

$9.98 million | 6,482,401 acres | 937,644 BLM acres 

5

IDAHO | Upper Salmon River

This is Idaho’s core cold water refugia, where the BLM manages over 3,000 miles of streams that connect headwaters to river corridors. These aquatic systems are critical habitat for salmon, steelhead and bull trout. Lynx, wolverine, grizzly bear and greater sage-grouse inhabit the uplands. The ecological services these lands provide are central to the health and wellbeing of local communities and Tribal partners. Projects will replace culverts to improve stream connectivity, restore riparian habitat, treat invasive annual grasses, reduce fuels, increase diversity of grasses and forbs, and enhance the health and resiliency of whitebark pine stands. Improving aquatic connectivity and water-saving practices and upgrading water conveyance systems will benefit all – residents, recreators, fish and wildlife. 

$9.1 million | 4,056,461 acres | 1,034,116 BLM acres 

Contact:  Mike Kuyper 

6

IDAHO | East Idaho Rivers and Plains

The South Fork, Henry's Fork, Main Stem of the Snake River and surrounding uplands are home to diverse native vegetation, from resilient mountain big sagebrush communities to large riparian cottonwood galleries. The BLM has a long history working with private landowners in this area to protect valuable habitat and resources through conservation easements and acquisition of private lands. Restoring native plant communities on public land will build on that success, providing habitat for threatened and special status species such as monarch butterflies, greater sage-grouse and the western yellow-billed cuckoo, connectivity for big game, and enhanced recreation opportunities. Seeking opportunities to collaborate with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe may restore additional riparian areas on public lands and the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. 

$7.85 million | 3,944,590 acres | 291,092 BLM acres

7

IDAHO | Snake River Plain

The Snake River plain of southwest Idaho is a diverse, arid landscape in the most populous part of the state. Greater sage-grouse, the highest concentration of breeding raptors in North America, important winter range for mule deer, elk and antelope, and critical habitat for the threatened slickspot peppergrass are all at risk from the effects of a changing climate and increasing urbanization. Repeated cycles of fire and invasive annual grasses threaten the unique assemblage of plants and wildlife, and pose a great risk to the human communities that live there. Restoring native grasses, perennial forbs, sagebrush and other shrubs is critical to the health of the region. The BLM will also work to expand fuel breaks, aiming to protect these investments in restoration.   

$10 million | 5,498,581 acres | 2,599,905 BLM acres 

8

NEVADA | Humboldt O'Neil Basin

Investment in partnerships has revealed the value and potential of this landscape to support people and nature. The presence of perennial water favors the threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout and supports critical habitat and movement corridors for big game. Upland sage-steppe hosts the highest densities of breeding sage-grouse, which share habitat with pygmy rabbits and other sagebrush-obligate species. Restoration investment will build on and continue the success of collaborative efforts that have taken root in this landscape.

$6 million | 3,808,545 acres | 2,134,931 BLM acres 

9

NEVADA | Montana Mountains

In northwest Nevada, fire and drought exacerbated by climate change threaten the landscape. Public lands in the Montana Mountains surround and provide access to the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, an oasis in this high desert. A core sage-steppe habitat in Nevada, this landscape is home to antelope, mule deer, greater sage-grouse, pygmy rabbit, and other species that rely on sagebrush. Here, aquatic restoration and protection go a long way, as life is dependent on the area’s many perennial springs. Restored riparian areas – bands of green in the desert – will be key to the future of this critical ecosystem.  

$6 million | 4,300,448 acres | 3,682,910 BLM acres 

10

OREGON | Southeast Oregon Sagebrush

Conservation of habitat for greater sage-grouse is the priority for this landscape. Planting sagebrush, treating invasive or encroaching vegetation, promoting growth of native vegetation, and creating fuel breaks in uplands will restore habitat for hundreds of species. Restoration in the Warner sub-basin will focus on aquatic systems that the threatened Warner sucker and Lahontan cutthroat trout require. Restoring floodplains and riparian areas and improving instream habitat also enhance the value of the Warner wetlands as a migratory bird flyway.

$5 million | 5,738,908 acres | 3,729,409 BLM acres 

11

OREGON | Southwest Oregon 

Like many forest watersheds, the timberland ecosystems of southwest Oregon have been greatly simplified and stream channels degraded over time, with fish and other aquatic life declining as a result. Restoration here will focus on the threatened Oregon Coast coho salmon, using aquatic and upland restoration projects that also support the recovery of other fish, amphibians, birds and plants. Projects will build resilience of the wildland-urban interface forest.  

$5 million | 6,319,390 acres | 1,400,061 BLM acres 

12

CALIFORNIA | Cosumnes Watershed

The  Cosumnes  is the last free-flowing river from the Sierra Nevada Mountains into California’s Great Central Valley, where it joins with the Mokelumne to form a matrix of wetlands, riparian forest, and natural floodplains, with upland oak woodlands, savannas and vernal pools. These lands form critical habitat for migrating and wintering birds, essential waterways for native fish, and important social and economic benefits for Valley communities. The BLM manages crucial acreage in the Cosumnes River Preserve in cooperation with 11 partner organizations. It is home to the state’s largest remaining riparian oak forest.  Restoration investments will improve hydrologic function and landscape connectivity, control invasive species, and reduce hazardous fuels, ensuring this remarkable preserve is protected for future generations.  

$7.6 million | 1,416,876 acres | 29,914 BLM acres 

13

ARIZONA | Yanawant

The Yanawant landscape includes lands directly north of the Grand Canyon, rich with diverse habitat, from desert scrub to ponderosa forests. Restoration investments will build a more resilient landscape by restoring habitat for threatened and endangered species, improving drought resilience and ecosystem health, and reducing fuel loads and wildfire risk by removing noxious and invasive species and eliminating encroaching conifers. Restoring native grasses will create cover and connectivity for wildlife and stabilize soils, helping to improve and sustain the watershed’s overall function.

$5.59 million | 3,040,446 acres | 1,592,087 BLM acres 

14

UTAH | Color Country Converging

Stretches of the Mojave Desert, Central Basin and Range, and the Colorado Plateau – each immense ecoregions that help define the West – converge in this landscape, with many plants and wildlife at the edges of their ranges. Plants exist here that are found nowhere else on earth.  The scenery and experience invite outdoor adventures, and communities in this part of the state have grown significantly. The BLM, in turn, is investing in recreational services and restoration projects that increase water availability, address habitat fragmentation and restore riparian systems. In addition, work will restore greater sage grouse habitat at the southernmost edge of its range.

$9.73 million | 3,472,199 acres | 1,448,298 BLM acres 

15

UTAH | Upper Bear River

The waters of the Bear River and Bear Lake are the primary input for the Great Salt Lake, which is drying and shrinking at an alarming rate. Uplands are key habitat for big game and the largest, most contiguous intact sagebrush/sage-grouse habitat in Utah. Riparian restoration and maintenance, planting and managing diverse native vegetation, improving stream crossings, and restoring habitat for greater sage-grouse, migratory birds and big game will contribute to resilience across northern Utah.  Innovative and collaborative systems for managing grazing in the Three Creeks area has laid the groundwork for ongoing conservation collaboration.  

$9.6 million | 1,285,621 acres | 404,916 BLM acres 

16

WYOMING | La Barge

Conservation success in this landscape rests on significant collaboration and cross fence-line partnerships. Here, people are working together to manage for wildlife habitat and migration corridors and conserving and restoring priority habitat for the greater sage-grouse. BLM investment will reinforce these partnerships and work to remove invasive species, control erosion and protect water sources.  

$10 million | 2,685,208 acres | 1,003,882 BLM acres 

Contact:  Doug Mayes 

17

WYOMING | Muddy Creek

Muddy Creek, an important tributary of the Little Snake River, supports a rare community of native fish – Colorado River cutthroat, bluehead and flannelmouth suckers and roundtail chub. Flanked by important winter range and migratory corridors to the east, the landscape also holds core sagebrush habitat. Restoration investments will include fuels reduction, riparian and wetland enhancement, fence conversion and erosion control, all aimed at restoring natural ecologic function in the headwaters of the Colorado River basin.

$10 million | 644,311 acres | 440,015 BLM acres 

Contact:  Doug Mayes 

18

COLORADO | North Park  

North Park is one of the best places to visit and experience core sagebrush habitat and one of the largest wetland complexes in Colorado. At high elevations, these sagebrush communities are more resilient to impacts from a changing climate. The landscape boasts critical winter range and migration corridors for big game and numerous culturally significant sites, including the Northern Ute Trail. Investment in aquatic, riparian, wetland and terrestrial habitat improvements, fuels reduction and invasive species management will preserve historic and cultural sites and enhance recreational opportunities.   

$5 million | 911,664 acres | 169,708 BLM acres 

19

COLORADO | San Luis Valley  

Ecologically critical wetlands and riparian areas provide habitat for numerous birds and federally listed species, and the area is sacred to a number of Tribes. Investments in this landscape provide a unique opportunity for the BLM to conserve and restore wildlife habitat and fisheries, improve hunting and fishing opportunities, and foster climate resilience while benefiting historically underserved, disproportionately impacted communities. Projects will protect cultural and historic resources, expand recreational uses, and manage fuels and water resources at the headwaters of one of America's great rivers, the Rio Grande.  

$6.1 million | 2,637,529 acres | 323,053 BLM acres 

20

NEW MEXICO | Lower Pecos

Investments here will help the BLM build on nearly 20 years of experience restoring the Pecos River drainage. Landscape-scale treatments protect fragile soils, increase native grasses, reverse fragmentation, improve water filtration and groundwater recharge, reduce sediment loads in the Pecos and its tributaries, and restore habitat for a multitude of species – pronghorn, lesser prairie chicken, bluntnose shiner, gambusia, aplomado falcon, Pecos sunflower, Noel's amphipod, wild buckwheat, Texas hornshell mussel, Kuenzler's hedgehog cactus and dunes sagebrush lizard. Restoring the landscape will enhance free public land recreation and hunting opportunities for rural communities in southeast New Mexico and west Texas.  

$7.6 million | 7,544,640 acres | 2,289,912 BLM acres 

21

ARIZONA | Sky Islands    

Often rising more than 6,000 feet above the desert floor, Arizona’s mountainous Sky Islands support levels of biodiversity rarely seen elsewhere in the West. This pocket of isolated mountains is home to a unique assemblage of over 30 federally listed species living in both desert and alpine ecosystems. The landscape, also known for its vast heritage and recreational opportunities, is under threat from unprecedented drought and catastrophic wildfire. Restoration investments will reduce fuel loads, improve groundwater management in the San Pedro River drainage, protect critical wildlife migration corridors, and support recovery of threatened and endangered wildlife. Investments in fencing will also help protect the critical desert riparian ecosystem of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area.  

$9.59 million | 3,986,671 acres | 657,994 BLM acres

Downloadable Data

Download the GIS Data in this story map from the Bureau of Land Management's  Geospatial Business Platform .