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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is inviting the public to celebrate the 20th anniversary of National Public Lands Day! There are two local events at two different locations. Events are scheduled in the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey Area (NCA) a short 25 minute drive southwest of Boise at Swan Falls Dam, or in the Little Jacks Creek Wilderness, 60 miles south of Boise off the Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway. Both events are scheduled for September 28.This year's activities in the Snake River Birds of Prey NCA are the second part of a riparian improvement project along the scenic and frequently accessed Snake River near Swan Falls Dam and Halverson Bar hiking access. The first part of the project involved constructing a riparian exclosure, rehabilitating roads and treating noxious weeds, in 2012. "We will be adding to the seedings planted last year by installing native plant plugs, such as 4-wing saltbush, to increase shrub structure for wildlife species," said Restoration Ecologist, Anne Halford.If you want to help out in a wilderness area, then volunteer to help out in the Little Jacks Creek Wilderness, located 14 miles south of Grand View. The Idaho Trails Association and Boise REI are partnering for the second year with BLM Boise District's Bruneau Field Office. The 2013 work project will take place in Little Jacks Creek Wilderness in an area known as Perjue Canyon, or Shoofly Creek. According to the ITA's website, “Shoofly Creek is located in what is likely the closest designated Wilderness to Boise. This beautiful river canyon flows out of the Little Jacks Creek Wilderness and provides panoramic canyon views -- California bighorn sheep and a variety of raptors call this environment home."BLM staff, their families, and volunteers from around the Boise Valley will be doing trail work and removing barbed-wire fencing associated with several historic homesteads. A 6-mile trail running the length of Shoofly Creek needs maintenance work to be passable. The trail will provide a new hiking opportunity in the wilderness. Rustic-looking signs made from recycled materials also need to be installed. Volunteers will enjoy a gourmet Dutch oven meal after the work projects are completed. As a bonus, volunteers will receive free entry to participating parks! In addition to National Public Lands Day being a fee-free day in many federally managed lands, volunteers who participate in National Public Lands Day on federal land sites are rewarded with coupons for free entry into their favorite federal public land areas that have entrance fees. Volunteers who work at a site managed by the BLM, National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or USDA Forest Service will receive a coupon good for a "fee-free" day at any site managed by those agencies.For more information about National Public Lands Day, go to: www.publiclandsday.org, or contact Barbara Forderhase for the Birds of Prey event at 208-384-3485 or Dave Draheim for the Little Jacks Creek Wilderness event at 208-384-3358.