The BLM, in cooperation with Delamar Valley Cattle Company proposes to implement a sagebrush fuels reduction project on approximately 1000 acres within the proposed project area, which is approximately 1400 acres in size, of big sagebrush/black greasewood co-dominated sites within the Spring Valley Watershed. The project area is located approximately 20 miles southeast of Ely, Nevada (Map 1). The area is located entirely within the Spring Valley watershed. Vegetation in the project area consists of blackgrease wood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) communities and sagebrush (Artemesia spp.) communities.

The area is shrub dominated with very limited to no understory and shrub age classes are mature and decadent. The project would be designed to reduce shrub composition and cover in shrub dominated sites, followed by seeding desirable perennial grasses and forbs. This would decrease the intensity and rate of spread if any wildfires were to occur within the plant community of the proposed treatment area. The seeding of fire resistant and tolerant species that are adapted to site characteristics would buffer the plant community against invasive and undesirable plant species encroaching upon the proposed area after a wild fire event.

The proposal is to pull a pasture aerator (aka, brush crusher) with an attached seedbox over the area. Settings on the aerator would be regulated to achieve a decreased shrub cover and composition desirable for fuels reduction, and to regulate seed rates. Seeding would occur at the same time of the shrub treatment.

Brush crushing and seeding would be conducted in an east-west direction. Shrub crushing would be conducted in a mosaic fashion by crushing shrub strips incorporating irregular (non-straight) boundary lines. Seeded species in the proposed mechanical treatment area would include perennial, fire resistant and tolerant species that are adapted to site characteristics. Seed to be used would be certified weed-free.

Several seeding trials, less than one acre each, will be conducted within areas inside the proposed project area on ecological sites differing from those within the proposed treatment area ( i. e. greasewood and great basin wild rye sites). The seed would be applied manually with hand seeders. The trials would provide research data for potential future projects within the Spring Valley watershed region. Seeded species in the proposed seeding trial treatment area would include perennial, fire resistant and tolerant species that are adapted to site characteristics. Seed to be used would be certified weed-free.

Legal Location: See map on page 9 of the Categorical Exclusion Decision
Date Posted: 09/07/2006