U.S. Government Resources: Recreation

Bureau of Land Management
http://www.blm.gov/nhp/index.htm

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 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 Bureau sustains the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Bureau of Reclamation
http://www.usbr.gov/

Established in 1902, the Bureau of Reclamation is best known for the dams, powerplants, and canals it constructed in the 17 western states. Today, Reclamation is a contemporary water management agency with a Strategic Plan outlining numerous programs, initiatives and activities that will help the Western States, Native American Tribes and others meet new water needs and balance the multitude of competing uses of water in the West. The Bureau of Reclamation websites contain a number of useful databases with up-to-date information on water resources, facilities, etc. This includes such databases as: Dataweb, Agrimet, Hydromet - Pacific Northwest, and Hydromet - Great Plains.

Department of the Interior
http://www.doi.gov/

The Department of the Interior was created by act of March 3, 1849, which transferred to it the General Land Office, the Office of Indian Affairs, the Pension Office, and the Patent Office, and reorganized in 1950. Its mission is to manage the Nation's public lands and minerals, national parks, national wildlife refuges, and western water resources and uphold Federal trust responsibilities to Indian tribes and our commitments to island communities. It is responsible for migratory wildlife conservation; historic preservation; endangered species; surface-mined lands protection and restoration; mapping; geological, hydrological, and biological science; and financial and technical assistance for the insular areas.

Fire and Park Resources
http://www.nps.gov/seki/fire/fire_res.htm

Researchers at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks have investigated the role of fire in park ecosystems for many years and have produced many papers on fire and fire management. Some of this research information is available as on-line papers from this Web site. Additional references may be found in the Fire Bibliography.

National Park Guide
http://www.nps.gov/parks.html

This site provides historical and basic travel information about all of the national parks (as part of the National Park Service), including contact links, events, and park resources. The web site also offers a search of the parks by recreational interests, activities, and park type.

National Park Service
http://www.nps.gov

The National Park Service was established as part of the Department of the Interior on August 25, 1916. It is dedicated to conserving unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of all generations. There are 385 units in the National Park System, including national parks and monuments; scenic parkways, preserves, trails, river ways, seashores, lakeshores, and recreation areas; and historic sites associated with important movements, events, and personalities of the American past.

Recreation websites
http://www.library.okstate.edu/govdocs/browsetopics/recreatn.html

The University of Central Oklahoma's Government Information site provides a list of Internet sources on recreation.

Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
http://energy.senate.gov/

Since its creation, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and its predecessors have considered, reported, and overseen some of the most important legislation ever enacted by the United States Congress. This far-reaching legislative activity includes: energy resources and development, nuclear energy, Indian affairs, surface mining, and water resources.

Southeast Archeological Center
http://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/

For over thirty years, the Southeast Archeological Center (the Center or SEAC) has carried out a tradition of archeological research, collections and information management, and technical support for national park units located in the Southeast Region of the National Park Service (NPS). The mission of the Center is to facilitate long-term protection, use, and appreciation of archeological and cultural resources in the southeastern USA and beyond.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
http://www.fws.gov/

Although a relative newcomer to the Department of the Interior (1939), the Fish and Wildlife Service's programs are among the oldest in the world dedicated to the conservation of natural resources.