Jarbidge Field Office

Murphy Complex Emergency Stabilization & Rehabilitation (ES&R)


Background

The 653,000-acre Murphy Complex Fire started July 16-17, 2007 as a combination of six lightning-caused wildfires in south-central Idaho and north-central Nevada. Fanned by high winds in dry, hot conditions, the fire spread quickly through brush, grass and juniper. It burned on public, private and state land, threatening residences, commercial properties and businesses. It also threatened critical training resources at the Mountain Home Air Force Base. It involved grazing allotments; bull trout, big horn sheep and sagegrouse habitat; deer/elk winter range; riparian and watershed areas; sensitive plant species; and numerous cultural sites. 

Jarbidge Field Office

The fire was contained August 2 after burning 653,000 acres (483,000 acres in Idaho and 170,000 acres in Nevada). It was the largest wildfire in Idaho since the1910 fires. The resulting Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ES&R) project is massive. It involves the assistance of many partners and contractors. This year, about 1.2 million pounds of seed will be planted.

Scope of the Rehabilitation Effort

The inter-disciplinary team which developed the Murphy Complex ES&R plan involved the BLM Jarbidge Field Office and agencies such as Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Department of Lands, Idaho State Department of Agriculture, and Nevada Division of Wildlife. The team completed an assessment on about 425,000 acres, taking into consideration the very highest ES&R needs over a huge surface area. Several public meetings were held. Livestock grazing permittee requests were also carefully considered. Land management agencies conducted post-fire assessments of the burned area and concluded that 366,220 acres need stabilization and rehabilitation. 

Treatments

Treatments include drill and aerial seeding as well as seedling planting. Seed mixes consist of native and non-native species such as Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, sandberg bluegrass, sherman big bluegrass, western yarrow, small burnet, alfalfa, sanfoin and lewis flax.

In addition to seeding, noxious weeds will be treated, soil stabilization projects will be implemented, 34 miles of temporary fence will be built and 455 miles of fence will be repaired. Treatment began in October 2007 and will be completed by spring 2008, dependent upon weather. Within the Twin Falls District boundaries, there are 99 drills actively seeding about 3,000 acres a day. Over 1.2 million pounds of seed has been purchased and $12.2 million spent in fiscal year 2007.

 
Drill Seeding
Total acres to be treated by drill seeders: 67,589 acres including seven state sections
Total acres completed as of 11/02/07: 27,125 acres (40% completed)
 
Aerial Seeding (Wilderness Study Areas)
Total acres to be treated by aerial seeding: 13,195 acres
Total acres completed as of 10/31/07: 13,195 acres
Total acres to be treated aerially with sagebrush seed: 261,221 acres
 
Soil Stabilization Structures
Total miles to be treated: 4.3 miles
Total miles completed as of 11/5/07: 4.3 miles
 
Seedling Planting (Bitterbrush)
Total acres to be treated with seedlings: 10,677 acres
 
Shrub Planting (Willows)
1,600 plants
 
Noxious Weed Treatment
425,815 acres
 
Monitoring
Total acres proposed for monitoring: 425,815 acres

Future Steps
It is important that the BLM Jarbidge Field Office continue to monitor treatment success and natural recovery rates. This information is critical to determine the success of treatments and will be applied to future fire rehabilitation efforts. BLM is committed to meeting the tremendous challenge of achieving these rehabilitation goals while at the same time meeting the most critical needs of the tribes, the public, the permittees and state and other federal agencies.