BLM issues travel warning

With spring in the Bighorn Basin comes rain and some heavy, wet snow from time to time, so the Bureau of Land Management is advising travelers that may be on roads crossing public lands to please use caution.

BLM Worland Field Office Manager Mike Phillips is asking the public to steer clear of muddy roads to avoid damaging the roads and resources.

“Waiting for roads to dry up is the best way to avoid becoming stranded,” Phillips said.

Driving on wet dirt roads and two-tracks can cause damage like soil erosion and degradation, damage to vegetation or archaeological sites, and ruts. What may be a small rut today can compound and make the road impassable later.

Phillips suggests watching where you park, too. What may be frozen in the morning could be a mud pit when you get back to your vehicle or the road that was frozen enough to drive on this morning may be muddy and slick later in the day.

As always, make sure if you’re going out for the day in BLM areas, please let someone know where you’re going to be.

If you happen to see road damage or a road that is impassable, please report it to the Wind River/Bighorn Basin District office at 307-347-5100.