October 25, 2007
Geothermal Leasing Open House Scheduled

BLM Nevada News - Elko Field Office

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will hold an open house Wednesday, November 7, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Elko Field Office, 3900 East Idaho Street, Elko, Nevada, to discuss future geothermal leasing on public and split estate lands in Northeastern Nevada. “We want to streamline the geothermal leasing process,” said Non-Renewable Resources Manager Kirk Laird. “There is increased interest in Nevada for geothermal exploration and development, and the Administration is emphasizing developing alternative energy sources.” The purpose of the open house is to give the public an opportunity to get more information about geothermal leasing and to voice any issues and concerns they want analyzed in the Programmatic Environmental Assessment (EA). The new Programmatic EA will help to determine how future geothermal leasing is done in the Elko Field Office. Federal, state and local agencies and other individuals or organizations that may be interested in or affected by BLM’s decision to lease public lands parcels for geothermal exploration and development are invited to participate in the scoping process. If you have questions or want more information about the Environmental Assessment, the open house, maps of the proposed geothermal leasing areas, to be added to the geothermal mailing list, or if you would like to comment about the EA, please contact Project Leader Jim Lindsay by phone - (775) 753-0200, by email at jlinsday@nv.blm.gov or by mail - 3900 Idaho Street, Elko, Nevada, 89801. To ensure public comments are considered while BLM prepares the Programmatic EA, they must be received by November 30, 2007.

August 9, 2007
BLM Land Sale to Lincoln County Delayed

By Dave Maxwell

The Bureau of Land management was unsuccessful in getting the notice of realty action published in the Federal Register by July 30, 2007. This breakdown will cause the non-competitive direct sale of Parcel A to Lincoln County in the Alamo Industrial Park to be delayed until at least 45 days after the notice is published.

The target date for the BLM sale had been in September, but according to Dr. Mike Baughman of Intertech Services Corporation, Carson City, the sale will now be pushed back to mid-to-late October. The earliest the competitive sale of land for residential use could be held would be 30 days later—approximately late November.

Dr. Baughman said the delay was caused when the proper paper work was not completed and submitted to Washington by the due date. He said the BLM in Washington now has the documents and they are being reviewed.

He also said he didn’t think this further delay would have much impact on Steel Tech Corporation of Corona, California’s, desire to buy the land from the County’s Parcel A, to build an expansion plant of their metal fabricating plant. He felt Steel Tech is still committed to putting a plant at the Industrial Park.

July 12, 2007
Barnes Canyon Fire Contained

BLM press release

Photo by Kelli Robinson

The Scott Johnson Type III Incident Management Team turned over the Barnes Canyon Fire to the Bureau of Land Management Ely District on Monday, July 9, for emergency stabilization and rehabilitation.

The approximately 950-acre wildfire, about 10 miles southeast of Caliente, was fully contained Friday evening, July 6th. Mop-up operations continued through the weekend. The wildfire started July 3rd. The cause is under investigation.

BLM Ely District Fire Management Officer Tye Peterson on Monday said that emergency stabilization and rehabilitation efforts are underway. “We are assessing the burned area. We will prepare an emergency stabilization plan and determine the need for a burned area rehabilitation plan, he said.

Two other wildfires in Lincoln County were also contained over the weekend. Both were ignited by lightening late Friday afternoon.

The under 10-acre Guest Ranch Fire, near the Mt. Wilson Community Guest Ranch, about 40 miles north of Caliente, was 100 percent contained by noon Sunday. The 276-acre Timpiute Fire, about 20 miles north of Rachel was fully contained Saturday night.

Firefighters and equipment from these fires were being released to be deployed elsewhere. The Johnson team used the Caliente Elementary School and grounds as a Command Center. Deputy Incident Commander Dylan Rader thanked Lincoln County and area residents for their assistance and support. We could not have accomplished what we did without these folks, Rader said. No injuries were reported on any of the fires in Lincoln and White Pine counties.

There were six other fires burning in the state this past weekend. The largest was a 25,000 acre blaze near Winnemucca that forced about 1,500 residents to flee their homes. Fire destroyed an electrical substation and several outbuildings, shut down I-80 for a time and killed some livestock. People were allowed to return to their homes on Monday but the fire was still only 20 percent contained.

Progress was made at the beginning of the week on the 1,200-acre Lampson Fire burning on National Forest land south of the old Hamilton town, about 25 miles west of Ely in the White Pine Mining District. Six engines and three water tenders, and two Nevada Division of Forestry hand crews were on the scene. The fire was expected to have been fully contained by July 10.

Others fires around the west blackened the landscapes in Oregon, California, Utah, Colorado and Montana during the same period. One person was killed by a fire in southwestern South Dakota when he tried to go back into his house to retrieve personal belongings.

May 16, 2007
BLM Seeks Input On Trail System Changes

Press Release

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely Field Office is asking for the public’s input on a draft management and monitoring plan for the Lincoln County segment of the Silver State Trail System.

The BLM also wants input on other potential trailhead locations and route changes.
Public meetings are scheduled from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 29 at the BLM Caliente Field Station, 1400 S. Front Street, Caliente, Nev.
The deadline for the public to provide input is 5 p.m., Friday, June 15.

Interested persons should address all written comments to the BLM Ely Field Office, HC 33 Box 33500, Ely, NV 89301.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time.

While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
The Silver State Trail System is a scenic byway that could eventually extend statewide, through federal legislation.

The Lincoln County portion of the trail system was designated in the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004 and consists of a 260-mile loop that extends from Caliente northward to the White Pine County line.
For more information or to obtain a copy of the draft management and monitoring plan, contact Jack Tribble, BLM Ely Field Office deputy assistant field manager for non-renewable resources, at (775) 289-1800.

May 02, 2007
BLM Announces Campground Openings

Press Release

In an effort to accommodate our recreating public the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Elko Field Office will open the Wilson Reservoir, Zunino/Jiggs Reservoir, North Wildhorse Campground and Tabor Creek Recreation Area in Elko County on Saturday, May 6.

A nominal fee has been collected at these sites for several years under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. A hallmark of the program is that 100 percent of the fees collected are reinvested in the sites where they are collected and used for maintenance and upgrades. These sites were placed in the fee program to ensure a reliable source of funding for maintenance and visitor safety.

“Most visitors understand that maintaining and improving recreation sites costs money,” said Tamara Hawthorne, Outdoor Recreation Planner for the Elko Field Office. “People are accepting of the nominal fee when they understand the money stays on-site and is being spent to keep the area maintained. For example, we completed the solar powered water system from the new well at Wilson Reservoir using fee monies last year, and are working on a similar system at the North Wildhorse Campground this year. The first shade cabana went up at Wilson last summer, and more are planned for this coming summer and future years as funds are available.”

Wilson Reservoir Recreation Site, 83 miles northwest of Elko, offers 15 camping units with tables and fire rings, vault toilets, central garbage service, water, and a double lane boat ramp. Fees for camping are $4 per vehicle per day, and the boat ramp fee is $2 per visit. There is a $2 per vehicle fee for day use. During the early spring months, access to Wilson
can be difficult following any rain events. “Visitors are asked to use extra caution and consider alternative camping and fishing locations during and after inclement weather, both for their own safety and to avoid destroying the road surface”, said Hawthorne.

Zunino/Jiggs Reservoir, 30 miles south of Elko, has a limited number of tables and grills available. There are no designated camping areas and visitors are welcome to camp or picnic along the north and south shores. Vault toilets and central garbage collection are available, but no drinking water is provided. Use fees are $2 per vehicle per day.

Tabor Creek Recreation Area is 30 miles north of Wells on the west side of the Snake Mountains. There are 10 campsites with tables and fire rings, and vault toilets. Drinking water is not provided, however water out of Tabor Creek is clear and suitable for drinking if it is properly boiled or filter purified before use. No garbage service is provided; visitors are asked to follow the “Pack it in - Pack it out” outdoor ethics by taking out what you brought in, plus a little extra that you might find laying around. Tabor Creek offers good stream fishing for trout, and the nearby Snake Range is popular for mountain biking, hiking, and wildlife viewing. The use fee is $2 per vehicle per day.

North Wildhorse Campground, 70 miles north of Elko on the north side of Wildhorse Reservoir, offers 18 campsites with tables, fire rings, grills, and shade cabanas. Central garbage service and vault toilets are available. The campground overlooks Wildhorse Reservoir and features three group sites that are popular for family reunions and large groups. In addition to the shade cabanas at each site, many also have mature aspen
trees for additional shade. Fees are $6 per vehicle per day for camping and $2 per vehicle fee for day use. The well to provide drinking water is not yet in service, but a potable water trailer is available to provide visitors drinking water.

“Due to wet conditions from snowmelt and recent rains, we’re urging people to use caution when traveling off pavement,” said Hawthorne. “The slick road conditions not only make travel on the dirt roads unsafe, but may also lead to resource damages when motorists attempt to drive around problem areas. Travel on wet roads can destroy the road surface –
particularly deep ruts made during muddy conditions – and requires extensive maintenance by Elko County or BLM road crews.”

Although the BLM managed camping areas are close to popular fishing destinations, the BLM does not maintain statistics related to angler success or fish stocking programs. Recreationists with questions related to hunting and fishing information are asked to direct these inquiries to the Nevada Department of Wildlife at (775) 777-2300, or by visiting their web site at www.ndow.org.

For more information about campgrounds or conditions, contact Tamara Hawthorne at the BLM Elko Field Office, 3900 East Idaho Street, Elko, NV 89801 or call (775) 753-0200.

April 19, 2007
Wild Mustang and Burro Adoption Scheduled for Spring Creek Horse Palace

Press Release

They are the living symbols of America’s wild West, and on June 2, 2007 the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to offer 41 mustangs and 5 burros to qualified adopters through its Adopt-A-Horse or Burro Program at the Horse Palace in Spring Creek, Nevada.

All the mustangs and burros may be previewed on line by going to:

blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/elko_field_offices.html.

The mustangs (yearlings, geldings and mares up to three years old) and burros were gathered from public lands in California and Nevada.

BLM monitors the herds and removes animals when they begin to over populate their herd area.

The removals ensure the rangelands will remain healthy for the remaining wild horses and burros, native wildlife, and permitted livestock.

The animals have been wormed and vaccinated and are in excellent health.
The wild mustangs and burros will arrive at the Horse Palace in the afternoon of Friday, June 1.

Potential adopters may view the animals on Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday beginning at 8 a.m.

BLM staff will approve adoption applications Friday evening and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The adoption will be conducted by silent competitive bid Saturday morning only from 11:30 a.m. to noon., which provides all adopters an equal opportunity to adopt the animal of their choice.

Adopters will receive a bidder number once their application is approved, which they must have to participate in the competitive bid portion of the adoption.
The minimum fee for the competitive bid will start at $125 per animal.

Animals not selected during the competitive bid will be available for adoption on a first come, first served basis for the remainder of Saturday for $125 per animal.

After the silent auction is over and if there are animals remaining, people who have adopted a wild horse or burro may choose a second animal under the “buddy program” for $25.

Adoption fees may be paid by cash, check, or credit card.

The fees are used to help defray the cost of gathering and preparing the animals for adoption.

Qualified individuals with proper facilities may adopt up to four animals.
Individuals must be at least 18 years old, a resident of the United States, and have no convictions for inhumane treatment of animals.

Adopters also must have adequate facilities, the financial means to care for the animal(s), and should have some experience training or raising a horse or burro.
Newly adopted wild horses or burros must be kept in an enclosed corral with a minimum area of 400 square feet (20' x 20' or larger) per animal.

Corral fences must be at least 5 feet high for burros and 6 feet high for ungentled adult horses.

Horses under 18 months of age may be kept in corrals with fences 5 ½ feet high.

Fences should be of pole, pipe, or plank construction.

Barbed wire is not allowed in stalls or corrals.

The corral also must contain a structure to provide shelter for the animal.
Adopters should bring a nylon web halter and 20-foot cotton lead rope for each animal.

A stock trailer will be required to transport the animal(s).

Drop ramp trailers and two-horse straight load will not be allowed.

The wranglers will load the animals into the trailers.

Private carriers also will be available to help adopters transport their newly
adopted animal(s) home if needed.
BLM also will provide free horse training demonstrations on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and a gentling demonstration from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The mustangs used in the demonstrations will be offered for adoption.
Mustangs make excellent riding stock, and properly trained some adopted Mustangs have become national champions in dressage, snaffle bit competitions, trail endurance, and jumping.

BLM wranglers and personnel will be available to answer questions and help adopters select their animals.
The process is called an "adoption" because BLM retains title to the animal for one year after the adoption.

During the year, a BLM or designated representative will visit each adopter to ensure the animal is being cared for and has a good home.

During this time, adopters cannot sell their adopted animal.

Adopters must notify BLM if the animal is moved.
After the first year, adopters must apply for title.

BLM will pass title of the animal if all the stipulations of the adoption agreement have been met.

The animal becomes the private property of the adopter only after BLM transfers title, which completes the adoption process.

More than 210,000 animals have been placed in private homes since the Adopt-A-Horse or Burro Program began in 1973.
For more information about the Spring Creek adoption call Bryan Fuell at 753-0314 or the Bureau's Adopt-A-Horse or Burro Program, contact BLM at 866-4MUSTANGS.