Utah State Office
| Contacts: | Erin Darboven | , 801-977-4328 |
BLM Using Helicopters to Re-seed Steep Terrain in Tooele County
Salt Lake City, Utah—Following the Big Pole Fire in August 2009, the Bureau of Land Management, West Desert District (WDD) will be aerial re-seeding via helicopter in Tooele County this week. The helicopter seeding efforts are used in sensitive, steep areas where further ground disturbance could contribute to erosion factors after a wildfire has burned an area.
“When a wildfire stops, the damage doesn’t end,” said West Desert District Manager Glenn Carpenter. “Many areas of the Big Pole burn area experienced heavy scorching and total loss of vegetative cover that contribute to mud and floods affecting recreation, range and wildlife habitat on public lands managed by the BLM.”
As part of the overall wildfire response, resource specialists develop strategies to address post-wildfire issues such as soil stabilization and weed control. An Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ESR) plan is then developed which provides analysis and recommendations for action. On less steep, more accessible terrain, seed is applied via all-terrain vehicles, handheld broadcast seeders and farming equipment. Vegetation that sprouts in the spring will be monitored on a long-term basis to be sure that ESR objectives are achieved.
Learn more about wildfire rehabilitation at www.utahfireinfo.gov.
The BLM manages more land - over 245 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. 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.
Utah State Office 440 West 200 South, Suite 500 Salt Lake City, Utah 84145-0155