BLM pinyon-juniper tree-thinning projects restore rangeland health, reduce fire risk
Two Bureau of Land Management pinyon-pine and juniper tree-thinning projects underway in eastern Nevada use different techniques to achieve the same goal, restore rangeland health and reduce catastrophic fire risk.
“Selectively removing conifers that have expanded into historic sagebrush habitats benefits ecosystem function, and wildlife and human communities by reducing risk of a catastrophic wildfire,” said Kellie Dobrescu, BLM Ely District natural resources specialist.
The 2,334-acre Waking Spring Lop and Scatter Project is a wildland urban interface project near Waking Spring southeast of Ely, in White Pine County. The 594-acre Dutch John Mastication Project is a habitat improvement project near Dutch John Mountain northeast of Caliente, in Lincoln County. Both remove trees encroaching into sagebrush and perennial grassland communities, restoring brush and grasses for sagebrush-dependent wildlife species.
Crews at Waking Spring are hand-thinning trees, a technique used when conifer expansion is less dominate. “It is often referred to as ‘lop and scatter’ because crews lop and scatter targeted trees across the treatment area. Non-targeted tree species, brush, grasses, and forbs are not impacted,” Dobrescu said. Waking Spring is a collaboration between the BLM Ely District and Nevada Department of Wildlife.
The BLM Ely District alone is undertaking the Dutch John Mastication Project, masticating or grinding up selected pinyon-juniper from 594 acres of traditional sagebrush and perennial grassland communities. “Mastication or mechanical tree removal is effective when conifer expansion is more dominate and understory vegetation, such as brush, grasses, and forbs, is typically lacking. The chips or mulch is left on-site to control erosion and provide for seedling establishment,” said Matt Rajala, BLM Ely District fuels program manager.
The Waking Spring Lop and Scatter treatment is part of the Waking Spring Fuel Reduction Project that will ultimately treat up to 4,485 acres. The Dutch John Mastication treatment is part of the multi-year Cave Valley and Lake Valley Watershed Restoration Plan that will ultimately treat up to 121,600 acres of the 583,800-plus acre watersheds.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.