For Release: Sept. 28, 2000  CA-N-00-91
Contact: Tim Burke (530) 233-4666 or Jeff Fontana (530) 257-5381                

Tests are slated to begin in late October to determine the feasibility of shearing and chipping juniper trees to help control the spread of the plants, and generate electricity.

The Bureau of Land Management's Alturas Field Office and Honey Lake Power of Wendel propose to conduct the tests on four 13 to 30-acre plots of public land in northeastern Lassen County where the spread of  western juniper trees has been identified as a problem.  An environmental assessment on the proposal is now available for review by contacting the BLM in Alturas, (530) 233-4666,  or on the internet at www.ca.blm.gov/alturas.   Comments must be forwarded to the Alturas office by Friday, Oct. 20.

"We have selected the sites to test the effectiveness of new, low-impact juniper harvesting equipment and methods being proposed by Honey Lake Power," Burke said.  "We will carefully monitor these tests to determine the impacts on soils, cultural resources, hydrology and vegetation.  If the tests are successful, we want to study opportunities to  move forward with the company to explore the possibility of larger scale projects to thin stands of juniper, and help meet public demands for energy."

Expansion of juniper woodlands is a concern in many areas of public lands in the west, including some areas of northeastern California, Burke explained.  When juniper woodlands become too dense, they crowd out grasses, shrubs and other plants important to wildlife and permitted livestock.  Juniper trees also use large quantities of water, which may reduce spring flows and impact important riparian (stream side)  areas.

"Juniper trees when managed properly are an important watershed component.  But landscapes dominated by juniper support less biodiversity.  There is a reduced variety of plants and wildlife," Burke said.  He explained that several factors, including fire suppression and historic grazing practices, have led to rapid expansion of juniper stands during the past 150 years.

Burke said there is widespread agreement among public lands stakeholders on the need to improve juniper management.

"The BLM's Northeast California Resource Advisory Council, a broad-based citizen group, has encouraged us to explore new juniper management methods," Burke said.  "They have even formed a juniper management subcommittee to assist us."

The BLM will invite anyone interested to visit the test areas and review monitoring information when testing gets underway.

-BLM-

Alturas Field Office   708 West 12^th St.   Alturas, CA 96101