This project proposal is to conduct a prescribed burn in North Spring Valley in multiple sections within Townships 23, 24 and 25 North and Ranges 65, 66 and 67 East, White Pine County, Nevada. The prescribed burn would be conducted along the mid and upper benches on the east side of the Schell Creek Range and west side of the Antelope Range. The target areas for burning would include the benches where pinyon and juniper trees have encroached onto sagebrush ecological sites. The primary vegetation within the project area consists of pinyon and juniper woodlands (Pinus monophylla and Juniperus osteosperma) and sagebrush communities (Artemisia tridentata wyomingensis and Artemisia nova). Antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata) is common along the west side of the project area along the Schell Creek Range, but exhibits low vigor and decadence due to pinyon and juniper encroachment. Perennial grasses and forbs are limited throughout a majority of the project area. Several management actions would be analyzed. A fall prescribed burn in areas with pinyon and juniper encroachment; denser, even-aged sagebrush stands and sufficient residual herbaceous vegetation. A spring prescribed burn in areas with pinyon and juniper encroachment, antelope bitterbrush communities and sufficient residual herbaceous vegetation. The use of mechanical treatments such as mowing or hand cutting in areas containing insufficient levels of understory fuels. The use of chemical treatments such as Tebuthiuron in areas with pinyon and juniper encroachment and denser, even-aged sagebrush stands. Reseeding the treatment areas with perennial, native and/or non-native species in areas with minimal to no understory vegetative species and limited seed source. The total project area parameter includes approximately 22,358 acres, although only an estimated 40 to 60 percent of the total acreage would be targeted for treatment. The east side of the valley (Antelope Range bench) would be treated during the fall of 2006. If time and funding permits, the west side of the valley (Schell Creek bench) would be treated during the spring of 2007. Otherwise, the remainder of the project area would be completed in future years when resources and funding are available.

The proposal is being considered in order to achieve the following resource management objectives:

• Reduce pinyon, juniper and sagebrush cover on sagebrush and mountain shrub ecological sites in order to (1) improve the overall vegetative diversity and composition within the ecological site potential; (2) promote the recovery and establishment of perennial grass and forb species; (3) improve the vigor and production of antelope bitterbrush communities and (4) improve the age-class distribution of even-aged sagebrush stands
• Improve the available habitat for sage grouse, mule deer and elk populations
• Reduce the risk of large catastrophic wild fires by reducing fuel loading and continuity within the North Spring Valley Watershed
• Restore the historic disturbance regime within the project area