BLM Takes Steps to Protect a Portion of Red Rock Canyon Damaged by Wildland Fire
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Las Vegas -- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Red Rock/Sloan Field Office has issued a five-year temporary closure for a portion of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA) due to Carpenter 1 Wildland Fire.
In July 2013, the Carpenter 1 Fire burned approximately 27,881 acres in the Mt. Charleston Area outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. The majority of the fire (26,939 acres) occurred on the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area of the Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest, with the balance of the burn occurring on the Red Rock Canyon NCA, Southern Nevada District (853 acres), and private land (89 acres).
In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), and the Clark County Department of Public Works, the BLM is enacting a temporary area closure to the public of 5,683.37 acres in the Red Rock Canyon. This temporary closure includes closing Harris Springs Road to the general public, beginning at the intersection of State Route 157 and proceeding westward for five miles to the USFS boundary.
The five-year time frame for the temporary closure is due to the extent of the fire damage and consequent time and resources needed for area stabilization and rehabilitation, and matches the USFS closure for the area. The size of the temporary closure is due to heavy rains, flooding, washouts, soil loss, and debris flow that have occurred after the fire, generating more extensive damage to the burned and adjoining unburned areas. The closure is also needed to help address public safety and adjoining private property due to the potential for future downstream flooding from loss of vegetation and top soil until the area is stabilized and rehabilitated.
Post-fire efforts proposed by the BLM over the five-year period will optimize stabilization of soils and rehabilitation. The BLM Nevada Post-Fire Recovery Plan, Emergency Stabilization and Burned Area Rehabilitation (September 2013) identifies emergency stabilization and burned area issues that will be addressed by a number of treatments and monitoring actions during the closure period. The BLM will coordinate stabilization and rehabilitation efforts with the USFS, NDOW, and Clark County.
The decision, supporting documents and a map of the closure area may be viewed on-line at: https://www.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/projectSummary.do?methodName=renderDefaultProjectSummary&projectId=37606. Information is also available at the Southern Nevada District Office.
Please contact Lauren Brown, Weeds Management Specialist and ESR Coordinator, 702-515-5295, e-mail: lpbrown@blm.gov for additional information.
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.