Surprise Field Office

Surprise Field Office

The Surprise Field Office includes approximately 1,220,644 acres of BLM-managed surface acres in northeastern California and northwest Nevada. The geographic area includes all BLM managed public lands within the counties of Modoc and Lassen, California, and Washoe and Humboldt, Nevada.    

The Surprise Field Office is located in the Northwest Great Basin, Cedarville, California.

Public Scoping Now in Progress:

Grazing Permit Renewals

Tuledad Fuels Projects

Close up of sandhill crane in grassy field.

Wildlife

Birds of the Surprise Field Office

Across the west, BLM-managed land supports more than 3,000 species of wildlife. The BLM's Surprise Resource Area supports more than 250 species of birds.  Click on the Sandhill crane to see a bird list.

Brought close up with a camera lens, a male grouse flares his tail feathers and puffs up his chest in display for a female.

 

 

It's sage grouse mating season !  Sage grouse congregate before and during mating season, which is usually March through mid May, on a daily basis.  Males and females meet at the same location every year and put on an extravagant display or "mating dance."

 

Firefighter at night on a wildland fire. Photo by G. Jeffers

BLM Surprise Field Office Fire Program

Surprise Valley Fire Station is an Interagency Station, home to BLM Engine 3236, BLM Engine 3237 and BIA Engine 1. The primary mission for the fire suppression crew is to protect life, property and natural resources from wildfire. Engine 3236 and 3237 are responsible for the protection of more than 1.5 million acres of BLM managed land.

Wildflowers coming soon

Wildflowers overlooking Long Valley. Photo by K. Collum

  Wildflowers in bloom. Photo by K. Collum

In late April at lower elevations, through May and into June in higher elevations the Surprise Field Office can produce a lush display of color. 

 

Black Rock Desert - High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area

Dramatic cliffs of little high rock canyon. Photo by B. Parrott

Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area.   The High Rock and Little High Hock portion of the NCA is jointly managed by the Surprise and the Winnemucca (Nevada) Field Offices.  Visit the Surprise Field Office Recreation page for more recreation information.

Fee Reservoir

Sign of Fee Reservoir Launch FacilityFee Reservoir Launch Facility .  Funded By The California  Department of Boating And Waterways and maintained and operated by The Modoc County Department Of Public Works In Cooperation With The Bureau Of Land Management.  Fee Reservoir Campground offers 7 semi-primitive campsites with enclosed fire rings, picnic tables and vault toilets.

 

 

Surprise Valley / Barrel Springs Back Country Byway

Barrel Springs Byway Logo, graphic of coyote howling at the moon.Lake City Flour Mill with snow on roof and ground.

Surprise Valley / Barrel Springs Back Country Byway is a route through Surprise Valley along a paved country road through quiet, small communities of white-framed houses, tall trees and gardens.  In this quiet place there is a feel of the past.  East of Cedarville the paved road ends.  The traveler will sense another change, one of entering the Wild West, for the country ahead is tough and unyielding. 

Lake City Flour Mill is one of the many points on interest along the Byway.  It was built in 1870 when northern California was wilderness.

Surprise Field Office Resource Management Plan Record of Decision, April 2008
Now available on-line:

Surprise Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement
May 2007

Record of Decision
April 2008 

Cover of the Surprise Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement

Bureau of Land Management
Surprise Field Office
602 Cressler Street
Cedarville, CA 96104
Phone: (530) 279-6101
Fax: (530) 279-2171
Contact us by Email