BLM to conduct aerial herbicide applications
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LAKEVIEW, Ore. – The Bureau of Land Management will be conducting aerial herbicide applications starting Oct. 10 through Oct. 20. Approximately 5,687 acres in Lake and Klamath counties will be treated, weather permitting.
The applications will be conducted in the following areas:
- Van Meter Fire area adjacent to Weber Road on Stukel Mountain,
- Public lands near the Town of Bonanza (Harpold Ridge, Windy Ridge, Horton Rim adjacent to North Poe Road), and
- Public lands in the Clover Flat area.
The goal of the proposed herbicide applications is to prevent the establishment and spread of invasive annual grasses including cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), medusahead rye (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), and North Africa grass (Ventenata dubia). The BLM is spraying the non-native, invasive annual grasses to restore native bunchgrass and shrub species within sagebrush restoration project areas and burned areas.
The herbicide to be used for these projects is Imazapic. The imazapic herbicide is used as a pre-emergent herbicide that helps reduce the germination of undesirable winter annual grasses. Perennial bunchgrasses are dormant during this period and unaffected by the treatment.
Maps will be posted along the main roads entering the project areas. Treatments will take up to two weeks for implementation and are dependent upon weather conditions. Please avoid camping or traveling through treated areas to allow aerial applicators to accomplish treatments in a safe and timely fashion.
For more information regarding these projects, please contact Grace Haskins, Assistant Field Manager, at 541-947-6134 or Kerry Johnston, Botanist, at 541-885-4136.
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.