U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT NEWS RELEASE
Southern Nevada District Office
Southern Nevada District Office
| Contacts: | Kirstne Cannon | , 702-515-5057 | , k1cannon@blm.gov |
Prescribed Fire Planned Week of February 4 in Pahranagat Wash
Las Vegas – A 50-acre prescribed fire is planned for one day between February 4 and 8 on public land in the Pahranagat Wash 8.5 miles south east of State Route 93 and State Route 168 junction.
The purpose of the prescribed fire is to cost-effectively remove tamarisk and Scotch Thistle. By removing these invasive species, native vegetation will be restored to the area.
The area is approximately 7.5 miles from the nearest structure. Risk of fire escape is minimal. Resources on the project will consist of one wildland fire engine, one fire-suppression equipped utility terrain vehicle and overhead personnel. The planned fire will only take place if weather conditions are in accordance with the Prescribed Fire Plan. The area will be closed to public access during the planned fire, however roads will remain open.
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.