BLM approves the plan to manage Pine Nut Wild Horses
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CARSON CITY, Nev. - The Bureau of Land Management, Sierra Front Field Office has approved the Pine Nut Mountains Herd Management Area Plan (HMAP) for the management of wild horses in the Pine Nut Mountains. The BLM has developed a 10-year plan to manage wild horses in the Pine Nut Mountains that could include wild horse gathers, implementation of population growth control measures, public education and outreach, habitat improvement/restoration, and monitoring protocols. The goal is to maintain or restore a thriving natural ecological balance of wild horses and their habitat.
The Pine Nut Mountains Herd Management Area (HMA), an area designated for the management of wild horses and their habitat, is located within the Pine Nut Mountains. The Pine Nut Mountains are located in Carson City, Douglas, and Lyon counties, Nevada. In December 2016, the BLM provided 30-days public review and comment of the draft HMAP and preliminary EA. The BLM received a total of 5,045 comments (4,662 form emails, 374 unique emails). Comments received ranged from removing all excess wild horses to not removing any. Most respondents were in favor of using PZP. We received some comments from recreationalists visiting the Pine Nuts concerned with the resource damage that the excess wild horses are causing, especially at springs.
The purpose of the plan is to address the following issues:
Prevent the degradation of public lands within and outside the herd management area;
Address nuisance and other wild horses that are residing outside the HMA in areas that are not managed for wild horse habitat or that contribute to public safety concerns such as property damage and vehicle collisions;
Address long-term population trends within and outside the herd management area; and
Manage wild horses in a manner that supports meeting Bi-State sage-grouse habitat objectives;
Initiate an HMA suitability evaluation for the Fish Springs.
For this plan, the BLM has prepared an environmental assessment (EA), Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), and a Decision Record (DR) to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act. The environmental assessment assessed the direct, indirect and cumulative effects from the HMAP and alternatives.
For a copy of the final documents and maps please go to the project website at: https://goo.gl/uqpD2w
For more information contact: John Axtell, Wild Horse and Burro Specialist, 5665 Morgan Mill Rd, Carson City, Nevada 89701 or email at: PineNutHorses@blm.gov or phone 775-885-6000.
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.