BLM Nevada News
ELY DISTRICT OFFICE NO. 2009-24
FOR RELEASE:  Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009
CONTACT:  Chris Hanefeld, (775) 289-1842; chris_hanefeld@nv.blm.gov

BLM Burns Pinyon-Juniper Slash Piles in Upper Gleason Creek

Ely, Nev. – Weather conditions permitting, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely District is scheduled on or about Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009, to begin burning slash piles of pinyon-pine and juniper in the upper Gleason Creek area, about 14 miles west of Ely.  Area residents can expect to occasionally see smoke from the prescribed fires, as well as an increase in fire vehicle traffic.

The slash piles are nearly all that remain from the Upper Gleason Creek Sagebrush Restoration and Fuels Reduction Project that combined prescribed fire use with mechanical treatments to improve watershed health and native habitat that will benefit area wildlife, such as elk, mule deer and sage grouse. The treatments will also help to protect an area electric power transmission line from potential damage resulting from a catastrophic wildfire.  The treatments were implemented in accordance with the BLM Ely District Managed Natural and Prescribed Fire Plan.

To learn more, contact Rob Frisk, BLM Ely District prescribed fire and fuels specialist, at (775) 289-1908 or Cody Coombs, fuels program manager, at (775) 289-1854.

-BLM-