Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - Public Lands Management | ESP 172, Study notes of Environmental Science

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ESP 172:

Public Land

Management

Professor Mark Lubell

TA Rodd Kelsey

Public Lands of the US (Lower 48)

Public Lands Background

Ownership Statistics ƒ Total land area of US: 2.27 billion acres ƒ 643.2 million acres of public land (about 1 million square miles) ƒ 27.7% of the United States ƒ 400 million acres, excluding Alaska (about 21% of lower 48) Ownership Patterns ƒ BLM and Forest Service largest landowners ƒ Substantial variance across states ƒ Most Federal land in the West ƒ Alaska has largest amount of Federal land (250.28 million acres, 62.4%) ƒ Nevada highest percentage (58 million acres; 82.9%) ƒ California has 43.7 million acres, about 43.6% of the land in the state

Acquisition of the Public Lands

From Original Colonies ƒ Seven of 13 original colonies claimed Western lands; grounded inoriginal charters from British crown ƒ Colonies gave land to Federal government as part of negotiations overArticles of Confederation From Foreign Nations ƒ 1803; Louisiana purchase from France; 523 Million @ 3 cents/peracre, about $ 16 million) ƒ 1818; Florida acquired from Spain ƒ 1845; Texas annexed after gaining independence from Mexico ƒ 1846; Oregon compromise; NW from British ƒ 1848; Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo; SW and CA from Mexico ($15million) ƒ 1867; Alaska purchased from Russia ($7.2 million)

Beaverhead-Deerlodge

National Forest, Draft Forest

Plan 2005

Disposition of Public Lands II

Statehood Grants ƒ On statehood, Congress gives states certain amount of lands, and alsorevenue from fed sales ƒ “In-place” grants of specific numbered sections for public schools(with later states receiving more sections); “indemnity” lands ƒ “Quantity grants” of specified amount of acreage selected by state;revenue generation ƒ Each statehood grant had specific terms for public lands; no singleformula; become more liberal over time ƒ Congress made other grants to states over time for publicimprovements, including Morrill Act of 1862, which gave 30,000 acresfor each Senator or representative for A&M Schools (I.e. UC Davisand Land Grant Universities) ƒ In total, states received 328 million acres

Disposition of Public Lands IV

Grants to Railroads ƒ Congress made massive grants to railroads in late 1800s ƒ Right-of-ways, construction loans, plus odd-numbered sections ofsurveyed land; for example, for each mile built, railroad gets 20 odd-number sections in a 20 mile belt ƒ Establishes the checkerboard pattern of alternating Federal and non-Federal ownership ƒ Railroads supposed to dispose of their land at $1.25 per acre, and userevenue to finance construction and operation ƒ Huge influence on western development; opened up Westernagricultural markets, promoted tourism, coordination point fordevelopment ƒ In total, railroads received 94 million acres

Myths of the “Great Barbecue”

Term coined by historian Vernon Parrington ƒ Manifest Destiny and the frontier ƒ Wilderness is evil (or, is it a source of spiritual sustenance?) ƒ Rugged individualism ƒ Rights to public lands ƒ No government intervention (hmm…what about subsidized logging,ranching, and water?) ƒ Infinite resources ƒ Resource dependent communities ƒ American majesty in nature ƒ Lords of Yesterday