If there’s a piece of federal land that you think could be improved for public access, or federal land that generally needs public access, now is your chance to be heard. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife service is seeking public input to identify service managed areas that people would most like to see new or improved public recreation access.
“We are committed to ensuring all Americans have access to hunting and fishing and other recreational activities on our public lands. By enhancing and increasing public access on national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries, people can visit and enjoy quality outdoor recreation experiences in these remarkable places.” – Cynthia Martinez, Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System
Nominations of public lands will be accepted between December 16, 2024 and January 16, 2025. To meet the criteria, nominated areas must be managed by the U.S. FWS, must be at least 640 contiguous acres, must have significantly restricted access or no public access, must be open under federal or state law to hunting, fishing or other public recreational purposes, and “should have potential for public access and the likelihood of changing the current lack of public access or restriction to public access.”
In the past, the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act, signed in 2019, has improved access at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, and the Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge, totaling nearly 7,000 acres.