Modoc-Washoe Experimental Stewardship Steering Committee Meets Feb. 9

Organization:

Bureau of Land Management, California

BLM Office:

Applegate Field Office

Media Contact:

Mountains surround a valley where vegetation grows among rocks.CEDARVILLE, Calif. – Members of the Modoc-Washoe Experimental Stewardship Steering Committee will discuss rangeland resource conservation topics when they meet Thursday, Feb. 9, , from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., at the Bureau of Land Management Surprise Field Station, 602 Cressler St., Cedarville.  The meeting is open to the public.

Morning agenda items include updates from member agencies and a report on University of California Cooperative Extension research projects.

Afternoon topics include a report on wild horse and burro management, the status of the sage-grouse conservation plan, an update on revision of the Modoc National Forest Plan, and a report from a technical review team working on the Modoc National Forest’s Lassen 15 project.  The committee will also hear updates on the Lassen grazing environmental assessment, receive information from a grazing monitoring workshop and hear an update on BLM wilderness study area management.

The committee will accept public comments at 11:30 a.m.   Those unable to attend in person can participate via conference telephone.  The dial-in number is 888-395-5718, and the passcode is 56165.  The line will be available for the duration of the meeting.

The Modoc-Washoe group is part of the national Experimental Stewardship Program, created by Congress in the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978.  The program encourages rangeland management innovation and incentives for improving conditions on public rangelands.  The Modoc-Washoe group focuses on public lands managed by the BLM Surprise Field Station and the Modoc National Forest Warner Mountain Ranger District.

The committee has diverse membership including livestock grazing permit holders, representatives from the BLM and Forest Service, and the California and Nevada Departments of Fish and Wildlife.  Other interests represented include the timber industry, invasive weed control interests, resource conservation districts, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, environmental and sporting interests from California and Nevada and local government.


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.