BLM and partners work to control cheatgrass across High Desert District

RAWLINS, Wyo. – With a shared commitment to manage for healthy rangelands and reduce wildfire risk, the Bureau of Land Management continues to partner with Carbon County Weed and Pest Control District to aerially spray cheatgrass from now through August in the following locations:

Battle Mountain/Reader Basin/Loco Creek/Five Buttes:

Approximately 70,000 acres mixed ownership across the overall project area. Approximately 3,000 acres of cheatgrass infested foothills and rangelands will be treated across 9,000 BLM acres.

Atlantic Rim:

Approximately 64,000 acres mixed ownership across the overall project area. Cheatgrass infestations over 5,000 acres will be treated across 16,000 BLM acres in the Atlantic Rim and Bridger Pass area.

These projects target areas of cheatgrass infestation on State, BLM-managed lands and partnering private landowners. Cheatgrass reduction will reduce wildfire risk, enhance wildlife habitat and improve recreational experiences.  

Treatments will involve spraying the herbicides indaziflam from a helicopter. Actual spray dates will depend on weather conditions. Areas will remain open but please use caution to avoid spraying operations. Areas are safe to re-enter once sprays have dried.

During operations, application aircraft will be visible within and adjacent to defined project area boundaries at relatively low altitudes. Permitees, oil and gas field personnel, recreationists, and other public land users are urged to be aware of treatment operations.

For more information, please contact either Carbon County Weed and Pest Control District Supervisor Reese Irvine at (307) 324-8001, Rawlins Field Office Rangeland Management Specialist Mike Murry at (307) 328-4253, or High Desert District Fuels Chris Otto at (307) 328-4250.