Battle Mountain District
| Contacts: | Shawna Richardson | , 775-635-4181 | , Diamond_Complex_Gather@blm.gov |
BLM Seeks Public Input on Proposed Diamond Complex Wild Horse Gather
Battle Mountain, Nev. – The Battle Mountain District, Mount Lewis Field Office is in the early planning stage for a proposed wild horse gather in the Diamond Complex (Diamond, Diamond Hills North and Diamond Hills South Herd Management Areas) in early 2013. The BLM will prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the potential impacts of a gather on the public land. The Diamond Complex of HMAs is north of Eureka, Nev.
The current estimated population of 826 wild horses is impacting rangeland health in the Complex. The Appropriate Management Level for the Diamond Complex is 210 wild horses, which was established through prior decision documents following the collection and analysis of monitoring data and coordination with the interested public.
The BLM is asking the interested public to submit comments, issues, alternatives, recommendations, or other input for inclusion into the preliminary EA. The Preliminary EA will be made available to the public in late August or early September, for a 30-day comment period.
The Diamond Complex is a diverse area consisting of 10,000-foot mountain peaks, steep drainages, rolling foothills, aspen stands, streams, springs and meadows. The Complex provides important habitat to a large diversity of wildlife including greater sage-grouse, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, raptors, migratory birds, coyote, mountain lion, and reptiles.
An on-site wild horse adoption is also being planned for this gather.
The scoping letter, map, and photos of the Diamond Complex are available on the Battle Mountain District website at www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/battle_mountain_field.html. The website will continue to be updated to reflect the latest information on this important effort.
For more information regarding this proposal, contact Shawna Richardson, Wild Horse and Burro Specialist, at 775-635-4181 or email comments to Diamond_Complex_Gather@blm.gov. Additional information about the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program is also available on the internet at www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/whbprogram.html.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Battle Mountain District 50 Bastian Rd. Battle Mountain, NV 89820