The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a powerful government agency within the US Department of the Interior, administers 264 million acres of America's public lands, primarily in the western US states. For those interested in what, exactly, the BLM does in order "to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations," this...

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages over 264 million acres of public land, most of which is located in the western United States. The BLM works diligently to get information on these lands out to a variety of stakeholders, including other government agencies, private landowners, and other organizations. This website brings together the BLM's formal land statistics and reports. Visitors can...

In 1965, the US Congress created the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) "to preserve open space, develop recreation opportunities, and assure that all Americans have access to quality outdoor recreation." The Land and Water Conservation Fund receives $900 million annually, mainly from ocean oil drilling revenues. However, as much as 85 percent of each year's Fund is diverted for purposes...

This interactive map from the US Department of Agriculture displays US land use areas by color. Clicking on a region of the map takes you to a page featuring a blown-up map and a paragraph describing the major land use of the area (e.g., agriculture, residential, industrial, etc.). From there, you can also access regional elevation, climate, water, and soil information.

The US Geological Survey's Gap Analysis Program (GAP) is a cooperative project that attempts to map land cover and vertebrate species distribution in order to enhance conservation land management activities. Visitors can view data about protected areas and species as well as read USGS publications on this program.

These two sites should be useful for urban planners or anyone interested in the issues surrounding development and "sprawl." The first, a report from the Economic Research Service (ERS) of the US Department of Agriculture, covers the "forces driving development, its character and impacts on agriculture and rural communities, the means available to channel and control growth, and the pros and cons...