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Bureau of Land Management
Montana State Office

The Montana/Dakotas BLM

[image: visitors boating on a lake with forested hills in the background]

Public Lands USA: Use, Share, Appreciate

Committed to the People

WELCOME to the public lands of Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administers more than eight million acres of public land and an additional 47 million acres of subsurface federal mineral estate in the three states. These public lands are held in trust for the use and enjoyment of the American people.

When we say "public lands," we mean just that. These lands belong to you, so visit them often. You'll discover a diversity of landscapes, uses and wildlife, and perhaps learn some history along the way.

The BLM manages fish and wildlife habitat, wilderness areas, historic trails, recreation, rangelands, timber, watersheds, minerals, wild horses, national monuments, and a wild and scenic river. We're also responsible for preserving natural, scenic, scientific and cultural values.

RECREATION is one of the most popular uses of our public lands. You can hike, bike, hunt, camp, fish, float or boat. Birdwatchers, sightseers, horse-back riders, off-highway vehicle riders and history buffs can all find a place to do their thing. Drive one of our scenic back country byways and discover the beauty of our states' varied landscapes. If you're seeking solitude and relaxation, you can find that as well.

[image: a field of flowers with a forest and a bluff in the background]
[image: children fishing on a lake]
[image: a grassland with forest and a bluff beyond it]

Montana BLM manages two NATIONAL MONUMENTS —Pompeys Pillar National Monument and the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. In 1806 Captain William Clark left his signature on the sandstone bluff that came to be called Pompeys Pillar, after Sacagawea's son. The signature is the only in-place physical remnant of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail passes through the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, a landscape that looks much the same now as it did when the famous explorers first saw it.

Montana is home to the first BLM-managed WILDERNESS—the Bear Trap Canyon Wilderness Area. We also manage 36 wilderness study areas, from alpine settings to rugged badlands.

The Pryor Mountain National Wild Horse Range was the first designated WILD HORSE range in the nation. The isolated herd numbers from 100 to 150 animals and retains many characteristics of its Spanish mustang ancestors.

Visit Garnet Ghost Town or Ft. Meade to experience some of the early European history of the three states. Our CULTURAL program manages historic, prehistoric and paleontological resources.

Most of our 400,000 acres of commercial FORESTS are in western Montana. Years of drought and fuel build-up have put some of our forest lands in jeopardy of disease and catastrophic fire. We're working to improve the health of these forests through timber sales, thinning and prescribed burning.

[image: two wild horses rearing]
[image: a cluster of historic buildings on BLM land]
[image: a BLM employee performing a controlled burn on a dry grassland]

Committed to the Land

Our FIRE crews suppress more than 97 percent of all wildfires at the initial attack stage—the first 12-24 hours after ignition. But fire management personnel aren't just busy during the hot summer months. At other times of the year, they work with foresters and other resource specialists to reduce the wildfire danger to homes and natural resources where the threat to life and property is greatest.

Our RANGELAND MANAGEMENT staff works to sustain healthy rangelands and riparian areas. We administer 1.5 million animal unit months (AUMs) of livestock grazing and work with our state, federal and county partners to control noxious weeds.

More than 600 species of WILDLIFE, including fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds inhabit the rangelands and forests of Montana and the Dakotas. Pronghorn antelope, Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer are the most numerous big game species. We also manage habitat of some very rare species, including the endangered black-footed ferret and the threatened grizzly bear, Canada lynx and gray wolf. Together with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we've re-introduced black-footed ferrets in northcentral Montana.

Our MINERALS program focuses on energy for our nation, specifically from coal, natural gas and oil. Coalbed natural gas production in Montana's Powder River Basin is a relatively new aspect of the minerals program. Other minerals produced on public lands in Montana and the Dakotas include silver, gold, copper, zinc and phosphate. Our mandate is to manage these mineral resources in a manner that recognizes the nation's need for domestic supplies while at the same time protecting the environment.

[image: a herd of cattle in a field]
[image: a moose drinking from a body of water]
[image: an oil derrick]

Our LAW ENFORCEMENT program is responsible for protecting public safety and resources on public land, which it does in partner-ship with state and local law enforcement agencies. Our rangers also help to educate the public about land use ethics.

In addition to these major programs, BLM surveyors make the official boundary surveys of the United States' public lands. CADASTRAL SURVEY is one of the federal government's oldest and most fundamental functions.

Visit the PUBLIC ROOMS at our offices to buy land status maps or obtain land and mineral ownership information or homestead history.

Our LANDS program acquires easements for public access, administers land exchanges, and issues rights-of-way for communication sites, roads, pipelines and utilities.

We depend on VOLUNTEERS and PARTNERS to help us achieve our mission. Annually, volunteers contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of labor. We have 350 formal partner-ships with state agencies, conservation and industry groups, Indian tribes and many other organizations and individuals.

[image: BLM employee surveying the land]
[image: visitor riding a motorcycle up a trial]
[image: two children planting a tree]

For more specific information on BLM and its programs, contact one of our offices or visit our website at www.mt.blm.gov.

Montana State Office
5001 Southgate Drive
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 896-5000

Oil and Gas Field Station
1101 15th Street North
Great Falls, MT 59401
(406) 791-7700

Billings Field Office
5001 Southgate
Drive Billings, MT 59101
(406) 896-5013

Butte Field Office
106 North Parkmont
Butte, MT 59701
(406) 533-7600

Dillon Field Office
1005 Selway Drive
Dillon, MT 59725
(406) 683-2337

Lewistown Field Office
220 Cattail Drive
Lewistown, MT 59457
(406) 538-7461

Havre Field Station
1704 2nd Street
West Havre, MT 59501
(406) 265-5891

Malta Field Office
501 S. Second Street E.
Malta, MT 59538
(406) 654-5100

Glasgow Field Station
Route #1-4775
Glasgow, MT 59230
(406) 228-3750

Miles City Field Office
111 Garryowen Road
Miles City, MT 59301
(406) 233-2800

Missoula Field Office
3255 Fort Missoula Road
Missoula, MT 59804
(406) 329-3914

North Dakota Field Office
2933 Third Avenue
West Dickinson, ND 58601
(701) 227-7700

South Dakota Field Office
310 Roundup Street
Belle Fourche, SD 57717
(605) 892-7000

www.mt.blm.gov

The Bureau of Land Management, an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior, administers 261 million surface acres of America's public lands, located primarily in 12 western states. The BLM's mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

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