BLM Engagement Strategy

The sequence

1. Pilot one office first

Utah is the strongest pilot state. BLM Utah was the first state used in the accessibility-page rollout, and Cedar City Field Office already publicly features disc golf at Three Peaks. Start where credibility already exists.

2. Use a local champion, not a cold mail blast

Each packet should go in through a person who lives in that field office’s orbit: local club leader, chamber ally, county recreation official, adaptive-sports partner, or veterans contact.

3. Request a meeting, not an approval

For events, use RAPTOR pre-consultation or direct office contact. For site proposals, ask for a screening or scoping meeting with the recreation planner. BLM explicitly encourages early coordination. Do not advertise, collect fees, or begin operations until written authorization is in hand where a permit is needed.

4. Revise the packet after office feedback

Staff will often reveal the real blockers: wildlife timing, shooting conflicts, access, grazing, cultural issues, parking, admin capacity. That information goes into version two.

5. Publish case studies

Once one office engages, turn that into a public case study. Awareness spreads faster through demonstrated success than abstract education.

How to identify candidate BLM sites

1. Use BLM Navigator to identify BLM-managed parcels within 30 minutes of your community
2. Look for: existing road access, gentle to moderate terrain, existing recreation designations (SRMA or ERMA), proximity to population centers, absence of WSA/ACEC/T&E designations
3. Cross-reference with the UDisc Disc Golf Health Index to identify underserved areas
4. Prioritize sites near gateway communities (Section 131) or underserved urban areas (Section 156)
5. Use PAD-US data (USGS Protected Areas Database) to verify surface management agency
6. Visit candidate sites; photograph terrain, vegetation, access points; note existing recreation use

How to request a field office meeting

1. Identify the correct field office at blm.gov
2. Request meeting with the Outdoor Recreation Planner or Recreation Program Lead
3. Frame as informational: “We’d like to discuss partnership opportunities for recreation development under the EXPLORE Act”
4. Bring the executive one-pager and a UDisc map showing disc golf coverage gaps in that jurisdiction
5. Ask about current RMP designations, existing partnerships, Challenge Cost Share priorities, recreation inventory plans (Section 112), and accessible recreation planning (Sections 214–215)
6. Follow up within 48 hours with a thank-you email restating discussion points and next steps
7. Request to be added to stakeholder and partner notification lists

Priority target offices

Tier 1: Existing disc golf relationships

• Cedar City Field Office, UT — Three Peaks/Ironside courses; strongest existing BLM disc golf relationship
• Northwest Oregon District — Stewart Pond course; active volunteer maintenance partnership
• Applegate Field Office, CA/OR — Barnes Grade 9-hole course approved September 2025

Tier 2: High-opportunity offices

• Moab Field Office, UT — Major recreation destination; gateway community opportunities
• St. George Field Office, UT — Growing population, active disc golf community, significant BLM acreage
• Boise District, ID — Growing disc golf scene, substantial BLM lands near population
• Bristlecone Field Office, NV — Existing Ward Mountain course; potential for expansion/upgrade

Tier 3: Strategic expansion

• Deschutes County area offices, OR — Active disc golf community, significant BLM lands
• Coconino County area offices, AZ — Active disc golf community near BLM acreage
• Grand Junction Field Office, CO — Western Colorado recreation hub