BLM West Desert District announces fiscal year 2019 fuels projects
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West Valley City, Utah -- The Bureau of Land Management West Desert Fire Zone has scheduled fuels management projects on approximately 23,500 acres of public land for fiscal year 2019. With over 7.7 million acres of land to manage in the BLM West Desert District, the fuels program is taking actions to reduce hazardous fuels and risks to human communities, as well as, improve land health by creating fire-resilient landscapes and restoring fire-adapted ecosystems.
"This year’s treatments are intended to protect important and valued public lands from the threat of large catastrophic wildfire,” said BLM West Desert Fire Zone Fuels Program Manager Erik Valdez. “While fire plays an important role on many Utah landscapes, these projects will reduce the negative impacts that wildfire often has on our more arid ecosystems."
In fiscal year 2018, the Fuels Program treated 20,464 acres across the District. This year’s projects will create fuels breaks that protect large, intact patches of sagebrush-steppe habitat, which are important areas for the Greater Sage-grouse. The projects will also reduce potential for catastrophic wildfire in communities along the wildland urban interface. The fuels management projects can be viewed at: https://on.doi.gov/2QRBqAF.
For additional information, please contact West Desert District Fire Management Specialist Erik Valdez at (801) 977-4300. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question with the above individual. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours.
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.