The Black Rock Field Office has initiated a 60-day public pre-scoping comment period
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WINNEMUCCA, Nev. — The Black Rock Field Office has initiated a 60-day pre-scoping period for a proposed road re-route within the Soldier Meadows Area of Critical Environmental Concern (Area). Route 2054 “High Rock Lake Road” currently crosses critical habitat for the desert dace, a federally protected fish species, only found within the Soldier Meadows area.
The route has flooded in the past with water connected to desert dace critical habitat. Motorists travelling through the area have created new, unauthorized routes to avoid the flooded sections. The unauthorized routes have damaged habitat for the desert dace, sensitive springsnails, and sensitive plants.
The proposal includes re-routing High Rock Lake Road to go around the Soldier Meadows campground and avoid crossing critical desert dace habitat. As part of the project, the desert dace critical habitat would be restored in the areas where unauthorized routes were created.
“Soldier Meadows is a popular location for recreationists due to hot springs, a designated campground, and public cabin. By re-routing the road to avoid crossing critical habitat for desert dace, we can better protect this sensitive species while continuing to provide access to public lands" said Black Rock Field Office Manager, Mark Hall.
The Black Rock Field Office is soliciting public pre-scoping comments to identify preliminary issues and concerns to be addressed and to help determine the appropriate scope of the forthcoming NEPA analysis. The Soldier Meadows Area is located approximately 50 miles north of Gerlach, NV in Humboldt County, NV.
Comments can be sent via email to blm_nv_wdo_soldier_meadows@blm.gov with “Soldier Re-route” in the subject line. Comments can also be submitted by mail to:
Attn. Soldier Re-route
C/O Black Rock Field Office
5100 East Winnemucca Blvd.
Winnemucca, NV 89445
The comment period will end on April 28, 2022; mailed comments must be postmarked by that date. For additional information regarding the project contact Kathy Torrence at 775-623-1500.
Before including an address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable information in any comments, be aware that the entire comment—including personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. Requests to withhold personal identifying information from public review can be submitted, but the BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.