BLM seeds 85,900-plus acres of eastern Nevada’s burnt public lands
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ELY, Nev. – On March 7, the Bureau of Land Management Ely District finished aerially seeding 85,944 acres of eastern Nevada’s fire-scarred public lands.
The seedings are part of the Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ESR) program’s treatment plans for eight of last summer’s wildfires. The seedings combine with other treatments now or soon-to-be underway to stabilize soils and promote habitat recovery.
The Bishop, Miller, Stewart Canyon, Twin, and Meadow Valley fires in Lincoln County; and Baldy, Brown, and Flat fires in White Pine County burned 127,743 acres of district-administered land. Overall, between June and September, 94 fires burned 137,050-plus acres.
“In regard to acres burnt, the 2020 fire season was the most active that the district has experienced in 10 years,” said Ely District Fire Management Officer Tye Petersen.
More than 630,813 pounds of seed was required to complete the job. Seed mixes varied depending on multiple factors, including burn severity, soil type, elevation, slope, annual precipitation, and pre-existing vegetation.
“Coordination between the BLM and Nevada Department of Wildlife was essential,” said Chris McVicars, the Ely District ESR program manager. “Department of Wildlife staff assists with planning and implementation, and the department provides funding, materials, and labor for projects.”
All eight of the ESR plans call for fence repair and/or temporary fence construction, temporary livestock grazing closures, weed inventory and treatment, and monitoring. A few include drill seeding, contour felling, and channel or slope stabilization. Two plans for the Meadow Valley and Miller fires, required emergency wild horse gathers.
Petersen credits program and state agency staff for successfully planning and implementing the large-scale project. “It required a lot of manpower, time, and resources. Our success is due to their willingness to go above and beyond to meet the objective,” he said.
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.