Elko District Office
| Contacts: | Lesli Ellis | , 775-753-0386 | , lellis@blm.gov |
BLM uses partner approach to watershed restoration and protecting Lahontan cutthroat trout habitat
The Elko District, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently completed the construction of a fish barrier on Maggie Creek, part of a 20-year overall collaborative effort between the BLM, Newmont Mining Corporation and other local organizations and agencies in watershed restoration. The barrier is to prevent non-native fish from accessing native Lahontan cutthroat trout populations.
In 1993, the BLM and Newmont developed the Maggie Creek Watershed Restoration Project which focuses on improving stream and riparian habitat conditions as mitigation for the South Operations Area Project.
The Maggie Creek fish barrier, part of the Maggie Creek Watershed Restoration Project, is designed to protect Lahontan cutthroat trout (LCT) habitat, a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. LCT occur both in the mainstream of Maggie Creek and in a number of its tributary streams. The barrier cost approximately $270,000 and took two weeks to complete.
“Although restoration efforts have been very effective,” said Carol Evans, BLM fisheries biologist, “state and federal biologists are concerned that improved water quality and habitat conditions in upstream reaches are making Maggie Creek increasingly attractive to non-native fish species present in the Humboldt River..Non-native fish could potentially destroy or reduce native fish populations through crossbreeding, predation and competition.”
The Maggie Creek fish barrier was constructed with funding provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Ruby Pipeline Mitigation Fund for Lahontan cutthroat trout. Newmont Mining Corporation provided more than 800 cubic yards of rock used as riprap to prevent water scouring below and above the structure.
“The Maggie Creek fish barrier is a great example of the power of partnerships in natural resource management,” noted Jeff White, Environmental Stewardship Director for Newmont. “The success of the Maggie Creek Watershed Restoration Project in restoring and enhancing riparian and upland habitat is a direct result of these partnerships.”
The Maggie Creek Watershed Restoration Project has included the construction of fences and water developments, replacing culvert barriers, applying prescriptive livestock grazing programs on vital riparian areas and initiating studies monitoring the response of LCT to improved habitat conditions. Partners of the Maggie Creek Watershed Restoration Project are the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Nevada Department of Wildlife, Newmont Mining Corporation, Trout Unlimited, and the TS Ranch.
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.
Elko District Office 3900 E. Idaho St. Elko, NV 89801