BLM

The Bureau of Land Management will hold an adoption on March 23 for several wild horses recently removed from the outskirts of Carson City. Currently eight wild horses including a mare and foal pair will be available. Meanwhile, advocates for the wild horses say they want the family at a California sanctuary instead of being put up for adoption.

In the latest edition of It's Your City, Carson City Mayor Bob Crowell provides an update on the activities of the Board of Supervisors. Topics include the strategic planning meeting held at the sheriff's office, recommendations made by the city's Audit Committee for the internal auditor, and the dissolution of the Sierra Forest Fire Protection District.

The mayor also speaks about the wild horse herd recently removed by BLM from the Deer Run Road area.

More photos of the Thursday, March 7, event in front of the Nevada Legislature buildings in Carson City. About 50 people showed support for wild horses that were trapped recently by the BLM. — Photos by Annie Jantzen

A local citizen's group called the Deer Run Wild Horse Preservation Group urged locals to come out and support the return of a local beloved herd of wild horses. About 50 Carson City residents came together outside the Nevada Legislature today for a rally to raise awareness in the community for what has happened to the horses.

Coordinator Annie Jantzen says, "Even the Humane Society in Washington, DC is calling for the BLM to put these horses back on the range where they belong, and work with the community on solutions."

Dozens of wild horse advocates held signs Thursday in front of the Nevada Legislature in Carson City to protest last week's decision by the BLM to remove a band of 11 wild horses from the outskirts of town.

Last Thursday, Doug ("Mack The Naw") Busey of Douglas County and I spent a very enjoyable day, fishing at Indian Creek Reservoir in Alpine County, Calif.

Indian Creek Reservoir (ICR) is a man-made reservoir located in the backcountry between Woodfords and Markleeville. ICR and its surrounding area is managed and maintained by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

UPDATE: Wild horse advocates will hold a rally in front of the Nevada Legislature Thursday, March 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to protest the BLM's decision to remove a herd of 11 wild horses from the area. The advocates say the want the horses, picked up from the BLM last week, to be put back into the wild. The BLM contends the horses have been problematic and pose a safety hazard.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the latest animal rights organization to denounce the Bureau of Land Management’s decision to remove a small band of wild horses located east of Carson City, Nev., in the Pine Nut Herd Management Area.

Efforts by wild horse advocates to stop the trapping of 11 horses this week may have been dashed but there are plans in the works to see if the horses can be allowed to roam elsewhere, including the Silver Saddle Ranch. Margie Quirk addressed the Carson City Board of Supervisors Thursday.

The following photos of "White Light" the matriarch mare tapped by the BLM, were submitted by photographer Annie Jantzen.

The Bureau of Land Management began removing several horses Wednesday from the outskirts of Carson City. The horses are a part of the Pine Nut Mountains herd management area that is adjacent to Deer Run Road. The following is from Margie Quirk, a wild horse advocate, who, along with nearly two dozen residents, were unsuccessful in their attempt to convince the BLM to consider other alternatives than to trapping and moving the 11 wild horses from the area.

CARSON CITY — On Jan. 23, 2013, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carson City District Office began removing 11 problem wild horses on the outskirts of Carson City, Nev. The horses are a part of the Pine Nut Mountains herd management area (HMA) that is adjacent to Deer Run Road in Carson City. These horses routinely cross the Carson River into River View City Park, where the BLM has received several complaints of people feeling threatened by the wild horses.

UPDATE 10AM: Today, the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, a national coalition, joined forces with a Nevada State Senator and local community leaders in and around Carson City to harshly criticize the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for refusing to work with local residents to keep a small group of wild horses free. The mustang herd at issue travels between federal land in the Pine Nut Herd Management Area (HMA) and a rural area outside Carson City.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Christmas tree permits are sold out but tree cutting permits remain available on BLM lands in the Pinenut Mountains between Carson City and Yerington, the Clan Alpine and Desatoya mountains east of Fallon, and the Excelsior Mountains southeast of Hawthorne.

The Bureau of Land Management Carson City District has begun selling Christmas tree cutting permits. The permits allow cutting a pinyon pine or juniper tree on designated BLM lands primarily in the Pinenut Mountains between Carson City and Yerington, the Clan Alpine and Desatoya mountains east of Fallon, and the Excelsior Mountains southeast of Hawthorne. Maps and directions are available with permit purchase. The cost per permit is $5.

A plan that calls for the construction of 45 miles of non-motorized trails, including eight new trail heads along the west side of the Pine Nut Mountains in Douglas and Carson City counties is being considered.

Alpine County's Indian Creek Campground, adjacent to Indian Creek Reservoir, will close for the season at noon on Oct. 8, the Bureau of Land Management Carson City District-Sierra Front Field Office announced.
The campground will be closed through winter, and reopen May 3, 2013.
The east side of Indian Creek Reservoir will still be available for access off the entry road maintained by Alpine County, weather-permitting.
For more information call the BLM-Carson City District Office at (775) 885-6000.

UPDATE 8:45AM: Highway 395 has reopened with controls (pilot vehicle) so expect delays and watch for fire vehicles, according to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center.
The fire, which has burned more than 2,000 acres, is burning mostly upslope east of Highway 395 into predominately BLM public lands in the southern Pine Nut Mountains. There is a decreasing threat to approximately 30 homes west of the highway. If the fire were to jump the highway, however, this is looking less likely as fire personnel consolidate fire lines. No structures have been lost at this time. Power lines down at the fire scene, but they are deenergized, which is impacting some local rural residences. The fire is 5 percent contained. Full containment expected by Sept. 24. An aerial reconnaisance this morning will evaluate fire acreage and behavior. Nine airtankers are currently assigned to the incident, which includes four large airtankers and five single-engine airtankers (SEATs).
Structure protection is being handled by units of the East Fork Fire Protection District (Douglas County).
Incident Command Post is at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.
One minor firefighter non-burn injury reported.

The banks of the Carson River through Carson City are up for a good scrubbing on Saturday, Sept. 15. As part of the 19th annual National Public Lands Day, the Carson River Cleanup, hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Carson City and the Bureau of Land Management, will focus on areas around Brunswick Canyon and Prison Hill Recreation area.
To get in on the cleanup, meet at the BLM-Carson City District Office's west parking lot, located at 5665 Morgan Mill Road at Deer Run Road, three blocks south of U.S. Highway 50 on the east side of Carson City along the Carson River, at 8 a.m.

UPDATE 8:30PM: Como Fire stands at 800 acres burned according to the 8:30 p.m. Sierra Front briefing. The Sierra Front Type III Incident Management Team has been ordered and will take over management of the fire at 6 a.m. on Monday. One percent of the fire has been contained with full containment by Tuesday. No structures are threatened.
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UPDATE 5:40PM: Como Fire burning southeast of Dayton in Lyon County has doubled in size to about 800 acres, fire officials report.
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UPDATE 4PM: The Como Fire burning southeast of Dayton continues to burn, consuming 400 acres with no estimate of containment or control, reports Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch. No structures are threatened. The fire is burning on BLM land and is spreading due to gusty winds. The fire is burning 2.5 miles south of Rawe Peak in the Pinenut Mountains. Air tankers, helicopters and hand crews have been assigned to the fire. Mark Struble with Sierra Front reports the fire was likely caused by a lightning strike from a thunderstorm on Saturday.

As I noted earlier this year, one of California’s two Free Fishing Days will be on Sept. 8. The other Free Fishing Day was way back on July 7. You can fish, all day, without a fishing license on Saturday.
You will be able to fish wherever you like in California, without the need for a fishing license.

CARSON CITY – With U.S. Sen. Harry Reid’s 5^th annual National Clean Energy Summit set to kick off today in Las Vegas, the debate over alternative energy development and the government’s role in its future rages on.

CARSON CITY -- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Sierra Front Field Office in Carson City, Nevada is requesting the community's input in the development of an environmental assessment (EA) for a motorcycle event to be held in Virginia City, Storey County, Nev.

The Virginia City Motorcycle Club (Club) has submitted to the BLM a five year Special Recreation Permit (SRP) application for the “Virginia City Grand Prix” event. Comments will be accepted until July 26, 2012.

Seasonal drying conditions, increasing daytime temperatures and a number of human-caused fires have prompted the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District Office and the Nevada Division of Forestry’s Sierra Forest Fire Protection District to announce the implementation of fire restrictions on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, at 12:01 a.m., and lasting until further notice.

Cooler, wet weather helped firefighters yesterday achieve full containment of the Topaz Ranch Estates Fire 15 miles south of Gardnerville, according to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center.

The fire consumed 7,152 acres, two homes and 17 outbuildings. The local Carson City BLM District office took over command of the firefighting this morning. Ten firefighters remain on the scene, down from a peak of over 500.

Extremely dry conditions has prompted the Bureau of Land Management Carson City District to urge cities, counties and residents to be aware of the increased chance of wildfire due to extreme dry conditions and warmer temperatures.
“The current conditions for this time of the year are dryer than what we have seen in the last 20 years," said Ken Smihula, fire management officer. “The public needs to be aware of the dry conditions and the very high risk of wildfire. We encourage everyone using public lands to be careful in regards to human-caused fires and take appropriate steps to prevent them.”

CARSON CITY – Three of the Republicans seeking the right to challenge state Democratic Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford for Nevada’s new 4^th Congressional District seat sought to establish their conservative credentials in a televised debate today.

CARSON CITY – Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., said today he is not optimistic that Congress will make any substantive progress on a balanced budget or deficit reduction this year given the focus on the presidential election.

But Amodei, in town on a brief recess, said he is hopeful that progress can be made on Nevada-related public lands bills he is sponsoring as a member of the House Natural Resources Committee.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California and Southern Oregon. This report is for the week of Feb. 1-7.

UPDATE 510PM: Fire burns more than 3,000 acres with zero containment; 4,000 evacuated; no count on home and structure losses.

At 4:40 pm this afternoon, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, under his constitutional and statutory authority, made a state declaration of emergency which qualifies local governments for federal assistance associated with this event. The National Guard is on standby at the request of Sandoval and Washoe County. California has also provided fire assistance as part of a Governor to Governor agreement with Jerry Brown. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been and are being affected by this fire,” Sandoval said. “Declaring a state of emergency ensures that every resource from the local, state and federal level is available to assist. The Nevada Division of Forestry and the Department of Public Safety have also engaged with local responders.” Additionally, Nevada has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). As a result, Nevada is eligible for up to 75 percent funding assistance for eligible costs. The request was made by the Nevada Division of Forestry on behalf of Washoe County at the onset of the fire.

More below the fold.

Here is the fishing report through Jan. 17 for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California, the Sierra and Southern Oregon.