Bureau of Land Management

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.

Federal officials say they have finished rounding up 11 “problem” wild mustangs in northern Nevada and that the horses will now be offered for adoption.

The last of a band that once numbered 50 mustangs were enticed into a trap last week, as concerned residents of the Carson City neighborhood watched in dismay, questioning why the Bureau of Land Management insisted on removing animals that had peacefully coexisted with surrounding homeowners for years.

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 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 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.

UPDATE 3:26PM: The fire burning in East Washoe Valley is 50 percent contained as of 3:22 this afternoon. Two out-buildings were destroyed, and no homes burned. Mutual aid firefighters called to fight the Lyon Fire, are now being relieved and remaining crews are doing mop-up, said Truckee Meadows Fire Chief Charlie Moore.
The fire burned about 5 acres. As of 3:20 winds had considerably lessened and the fire is putting out a fraction of the smoke it had earlier in the day when it started at around 12:30, Moore said. Eastlake Boulevard is opened at Highway 395 south. Residents who were evacuated from the area can return to their homes and should have photo identification with them.
"The chances of the fire growing larger are quite minimal. There is little risk to structures and property and the rest now is left to mopping up," Moore said.

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.

CARSON CITY – Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley used a second Senate debate tonight to attack Sen. Dean Heller on issues ranging from Medicare to online poker legislation, while her Republican opponent took a more restrained approach in the hour-long discussion on public television.

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.

The Perseids meteor shower is one of the more famous meteor showers and never fails to give a stellar performance. This natural event lasts an entire week in our region and seeing it in the darkest of skies promises not to disappoint viewers. Friends of Black Rock will set up camp on August 10-12 and invite their members and the surrounding community to come and be amazed at the wonders of the universe.

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.

CARSON CITY – The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 4039, the Yerington Land Conveyance and Sustainable Development Act, the first piece of legislation introduced by Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., since taking office after a special election in September 2011.

CARSON CITY – The House Natural Resources Committee today passed, with bipartisan support, H.R. 4039, the Yerington Land Conveyance and Sustainable Development Act, which was introduced by Congressman Mark Amodei, R-Nev.

“I want to thank Chairman (Doc) Hastings and my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee for their thoughtful consideration and support of this bill, which is of vital importance to the people of Yerington, Lyon County, and Northern Nevada,” Amodei said.

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.

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.”

Douglas County sent out an update this morning on the TRE Fire, which they say is now 6,600 acres. They also believe the fire was caused by a private residential open burn.

Press release:

The fire has grown to 6,600 acres burned. 2 homes and 17 outbuildings have been reported damaged or burned from the fire. No personnel injuries have been reported or discovered.

Douglas County officials scaled back the number of homes burned in the TRE Fire on Tuesday night to two homes from seven, however, 17 outbuildings were destroyed and the fire burning in south Douglas County at Topaz Ranch Estates has grown to 4,400 acres.
Sgt. Jim Halsey of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office reported the clarification in a news release. The fire continues to move in a northeasterly direction, away from homes in the Topaz Ranch Estates residential area.

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.

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.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife, along with state and federal agencies, will jointly host a stakeholder update and engagement session on issues related to the conservation and management of Sage-grouse.  
The meeting will be held January 18 at 2 p.m. in Carson City at the Nevada Legislative Building at 401 South Carson Street in room CC1214.
The meeting will be linked via video conference to Elko at Great Basin College located at 1500 College Parkway, High Tech Center, Room 121 and to Las Vegas at the Grant Sawyer Building on 555 East Washington Avenue, Room 4412E.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Sierra Front Field Office (SFFO) has made available for public review and comment the Nevada Broadband Telemedicine Initiative Environmental Assessment (EA).
The fiber optic cable project would connect, maintain and operate a statewide telemedicine network and would serve a minimum of 36 hospitals and medical facilities, with additional capacity available to serve public safety entities, educational institutions, and Tribal governments.
The comment period will close January 4, 2012.

RENO – Businessman Raymond Pezonella said today he knew the burden of complying with government regulations had hit a new level of absurdity after an all-day audit resulted in an $8.99 gas tax charge to his company because of a trip to California that his workers had failed to record.
“This took two of my people all day long,” he said. “That guy tied up my conference room all day to do this document.”

By the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Restoring and protecting habitat for foraging elk and other wildlife headline a list of 2011 grants for Nevada from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
The RMEF grants total $42,700 and affect Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Lyon, Nye, Washoe and White Pine counties. One project has statewide interest, affecting teachers and students across Nevada.

By the Nevada Department of Wildlife
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) urges chukar hunters to avoid popular chukar hunting areas recently damaged by extensive wildfire in northeastern Nevada.
Despite these fires, the department is still predicting excellent chukar hunting success this season.
Hunters are asked to stay away from China Garden in the Bloody Run Mountains, Tom Basin in the Santa Rosa Range, the northern portion of the Izzenhood Range south of Midas, the Hot Springs Range and the south Turscarora Range.

FALLON -- The Carson City District Bureau of Land Management this week gave the OK for up to five geothermal energy plants in Churchill County as well as a new transmission line extending south fro...