Nevada Wildlife FederationP.O. Box 71238Reno, NV 89570

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-profit Org.U.S. Postage

PaidReno, NV

Permit #310

Nevada WildlifeNevada Wildlife is the official voice of the Nevada Wildlife Federation, Inc.

We are an affiliate of National Wildlife Federation and the oldest statewide conservation organization dedicated to sustaining Nevada’s natural resources for wildlife through conservation and education.

Volume 16, Issue 1 Winter, 2012

Nevada Wildlife Federation

Burbank Canyons Wilderness Study Area has been managed as wilderness for more than 30 years. Now the Douglas County Commission is

considering whether to pursue a final wilderness desig-nation or release the 13,395-acre area mostly in Douglas County from wilderness consideration.

The county plans to take public comment through Feb. 16 when the commission is scheduled to take ac-tion on the Douglas County Conservation Bill at meet-ing held at 169 Hwy 50, Stateline, Nev. With Douglas County’s recommendation in hand, Nevada’s congres-sional delegates may move forward in drafting the final language of the bill that contains multiple pro-visions for conservation projects as set forth under Douglas County’s Open Space and Agricultural Lands Preservation Implementation Plan. For more informa-tion on the entire proposal see www.douglascountynv.gov/sites/main/lands_bill.cfm.

Wilderness designation for Burbank Canyons is controversial with many off-road enthusiasts opposed. Many wildlife advocates are supporting wilderness designation particularly because of the bistate popula-tion of sage grouse that inhabit the area.

“Habitat protection will be crucial if we are going to keep (sage-grouse) off the Endangered Species list,” said Brian Beffort of Friends of Nevada Wilderness.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness also sited protection of Burbank Canyons to conserve raptors, mule deer, bear, mountain lion and various other bird species that live there. Wilderness designation also would give per-manent protection to perennial streams, aspen groves, great hiking, and excellent solitude contained therein. Other key points include:

• Burbank Canyons is a great place for recreation: hiking, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, wildlife watching and nature photography.

• Roads in Red Canyon and Rickey Canyon provide great access into this beautiful little hidden gem. These roads could stay open even with wilderness designation to provide access for visitors.

• Burbank and Red Canyons provide clean water to the communities and agriculture of Smith Valley. Wilderness will ensure integrity for this watershed.

• Since Burbank Canyons was recognized by Bureau of Land Management for its wilderness charac-ter in 1980, urban growth has exploded from both the Topaz Ranch Estates and Gardnerville – putting more pressure on the Pinenuts and their wildlife habitat.

• Off-road vehicle use over the last few decades in the Pinenut Mountains has created many roads that dis-turb wildlife habitat.Comment by Feb. 16 via mail or e-mail:Dominique M. EtchegoyhenLegacy Land and Water1590 Fourth Street, Suite 203Minden, NV 89423dominique@legacylandandwater.com

Nevada Wildlife Federation

Nevada Wildlife Federation’s Southern Board met in Las Vegas in mid-January to consider wilder-ness designation for the Burbank Canyons Wilderness Study Area. Board members said the key point was the importance of Burbank Canyon as almost a last refuge for wildlife and the importance of this habitat as the Pine Nut Mountains and the whole area faces increased pressures from the continued growth of Douglas, Lyon and Carson City counties.

We discussed our concerns that it is our belief that recreation – hiking, equestrian, blade and bullet was less important than preserving the habitat. It was Director’s Bob Maichle’s opinion that wilderness designation would be the best way accomplish this if, and only if, we could insure that the land man-

agers understood and were directed by congress to take immediate action, including mechanical means if necessary in case of fire, to protect that habitat in an emergency.

The southern board voted to support this wilder-ness designation with the following caveat: We insist that at least in the legislative notes (if not in the bill itself) that the importance of preserving the integ-rity of the habitat be stated and this be considered a priority in wilderness management of this area. This would authorize mechanical means to prevent loss of habitat and mechanical means to repair and reclaim after the prevention.

“There are only about 20 square miles here, but I’d rather have a few urgent bulldozer tracks that require some mechanical repair than 18 miles of charcoal and a lot of homeless critters,” said Bob Maichle.

Brian Beffort/Friends of Nevada WildernessBright yellow aspen highlight the scenic beauty of the Burbank Canyon Wilderness Study Area 15 miles southeast of Gardnerville, Nev. The Douglas County Commission is taking public comment through Feb. 16 when it is scheduled to take action on the proposed Douglas County Lands Bill.

Douglas County to consider wilderness in lands bill

Federation takes stand to protect habitat

Sen. Harry Reid400 S Virginia Street, Suite 902Reno, NV 89501

Sen. Dean Heller400 S. Virginia Street, Suite 738Reno, NV 89501

Rep. Mark Amodei — District 2400 S. Virginia Street, Suite 502Reno, NV 89501

Comments up to and past Feb. 16 may be sent to Nevada’s congressional delegates:

2 Nevada Wildlife – Winter, 2012

Nevada WildlifePublished quarterly

by Nevada Wildlife Federation, Inc.

Editor: Lorna WeaverAssociate Editor: Gale DupreeIn this Issue:Burbank Canyons Wilderness Study Area 1Nature Notes 2Nominations sought for wildlife awards 2Awards banquet to be held in Las Vegas 3Nevada birding 4BLM issues sage-grouse guidance 5Public input sought for sage-grouse planning 5Agency offers new pollinator education 6State nursery sells conservation plants 6Wigeon wins Nevada Duck Stamp contest 7Federal Junior Duck Stamp open 7Comments sought on wind project 7Education newsletter wins national award 8NDOW asks anglers to release tagged fish 8Bureau of Land Management roundup 8

Nevada Wildlife Federation, Inc.P.O. Box 71238, Reno, NV 89570

phone (775) 677-0927Web site: www.nvwf.org

President: Robert GaudetDistrict 1 (Reno) Vice Pres.: vacantDistrict 2 (Elko) Vice Pres.: Jack PrierDistrict 3 (Las Vegas) Vice Pres.: Kevin CabbleSecretary: Vikki RiddleTreasurer: Anita WagnerNational Wildlife Federation (NWF) Representative: Robert GaudetAlternate NWF Rep: Kevin Cabble

Corporate SponsorsArt Source – RenoEl Capitan Lodge and Casino – HawthornePatagonia – RenoSierra Trading Post – Reno, Cheyenne, WYMorris & Brown Architects, LTD – RenoPerry and Spann – RenoNV Energy – RenoWal-Mart Stores – RenoSafari Club International – Northern Nevada ChapterPeppermill Resort Spa Casino – RenoHarvey’s/Harrah’s Casino Hotels – Stateline

AffiliatesNational Wildlife Federation – NationAnimal Ark – RenoCarson Valley Chukar Club – GardnervilleCarson Fly Fishing Club – Carson CityFriends of Nevada Wilderness – RenoGreat Basin Chapter Trout Unlimited – BakerLas Vegas Archers – Las VegasMotorcycle Racing Assoc. of Nevada – Las VegasNatural Resource Education Council – Carson CityNevada Bighorns Unlimited – RenoNevada Bowhunters Association – ElkoNevada Section Society for Range ManagementNorthern Nevada Outdoors – WinnemuccaOrmsby Sportman’s Association – Carson CitySilver Arrow Bowman – RenoSpring Mt. Volunteer Association – Las VegasTruckee River Flyfishers – RenoTruckee River Yacht Club – RenoWalker Lake Working Group – Hawthorne

nature notes

Join Nevada Wildlife Federation today!Your membership dues fund wildlife

conservation and education programs in Nevada.

Membership Categories per yearCorporate: $250, $500, $1,000 and upBenefactor: $100 and upSustaining: $40 to $99Life: $400Family: $35, for families at same addressAssociate or Affiliate: $25Student: $12

Name: _____________________________________________Address: ____________________________________________City: _______________________________________________State, Zip: __________________________________________Phone: _____________________________________________E-mail: _____________________________________________

Mail this coupon with your check or money order to Nevada Wildlife Federation, P.O. Box 71238, Reno, NV 89570

Gifts for higher renewal rates *Members who join or renew at a rate of $45 or higher can

choose among several gifts. Those gifts include one of four cam-

paign logo T-shirts. The slogans are: “Water for Wildlife,” “Share Your Backyard with Wildlife,” “Save Our Sagebrush Family” and “Support Elk on Public Lands.” A T-shirt with the NvWF logo is also available.

Please circle your choice of T-shirt. Please indicate size: Adult: Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, XXXL. Youth: Medium, Large. Other gifts are a baseball hat with the federation’s logo and several books to choose from. New books are: Hiking Grand Canyon National Park, Living with Wildlife, Basic Essentials Fly Fishing, Death Valley National Park, Pocket Guide – Nevada Birds and Pocket Guide – Nevada Trees and Wildflowers.

Other books include: This Land – A Guide to Western National Forests; Birds of Prey; Rocks and Minerals of California; Nevada Wildlife Viewing Guide; Black Rock Desert; Hiking Nevada; Rockhounding Nevada; Hiking Great Basin National Park; Best Easy Day Hikes Norther Sierra; Best Easy Day Hikes Death Valley; The Sierra Nevada Wildlife Region; Tahoe Wildflowers; Fly Fishing: Basic Essentials. Also avail-able is Beyond Fair Chase and Inherit the Hunt, which con-tain stories on the tradition of hunting by Jim Posewitz. Please circle your choice of book. Your generous donation of $60 or more will be rewarded with a choice of any two items listed above (books and clothing only). Please circle your two gift choices.

* Life memberships are not a renewal and are not entitled to gifts after initial donation.

Nevada’s first bear hunt finalizedNevada’s first controversial

bear hunt ended with a reported 14 bears taken by 60 tag holders. This hunt lasted four months with a take rate of 23 percent. Half of the take came from the Pine Nut Mountains east of Minden, an area that Nevada Department of Wildlife had little in-formation about bears living there.

None were taken in the Lake Tahoe Basin because it was never open to hunting, and that is where most of Nevada’s bears live.

Why is there so much public apathy against bear hunting outside of the Lake Tahoe Basin? I think most of the objection was because the public did not really know hunting was not being considered in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The media never once mentioned that Lake Tahoe Basin was not considered for bear hunting. Furthermore, most of these people have never set foot in any area that was open to bear hunting in Nevada.

Well, what was the outcome of this first bear hunt? Thirteen hunters used dogs. Did the 20 hunters experi-ence an ethical hunt? One thought he did, but he was cited for baiting the bears and illegal act. No harass-ment of the hunters was reported. Thank God for that.

NDOW collected more than $28,000 for hunter ap-plications and fees, and with additional allocations from Pittman Robertson funds it could go over $90,000.Agency to revisit endangered status of sage-grouse

The endangered species status of sage-grouse will be revisited by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by 2013. The 11 western states with sage-grouse are quite busy developing and updating conservation plans for sage-grouse to preclude a federal listing. The greatest threat to sage-grouse is poor federal regulation – allowing continued development of our public lands by gas, mineral and oil development on core (best remaining) sage-grouse habitat.Forest Service again tries to develop planning rule

Since 1979, U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has tried to develop a planning rule that would be accept-able to most of us. The 2012 National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule when implement-ed will have a National Advisory Committee for Implementation of the National Forest system Land Management Planning Rule. The committee of up to 21 members from numerous organizations can repre-sent any of the following list of organizations:

•The affected public at-large•Hold state-elected office•Hold county or local office•American Indian tribes•Youth

•National, regional or local environmental groups•Conservation groups or watershed associations•Dispersed recreation interests•Archaeological or historical organizations or sci-

entific community•Timber industry•Grazing holders, energy and mineral develop-

ment, commercial or recreational hunting and fishing interests

•Developed outdoor recreation, off-highway ve-hicle users or commercial recreation interests.

The committee will provide advice and recom-mendations on issues such as planning rule directives for implementation, best practices, effective monitor-ing practices and ongoing collaboration efforts.Furnace Creek Campground to close for repairs

The Furnace Creek Campground in Death Valley National Park will close Feb. 1 for the replacement of sewer and water lines. Frequent pipe breakages require that the work be started as soon as possible. The proj-ect is scheduled to take several months to complete, requiring the work to be completed before the extreme heat of the summer.

Campers who already have reservations will be relocated to other campgrounds in the Furnace Creek area, and their reservations will be honored. Tent camp-ers will be moved to Texas Springs Campground. All other campers will be moved to Sunset Campground. If campers do not want to be relocated, they will be eligi-ble for a refund from www.recreation.gov. Reservations will be honored first, all other campsites will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

The kiosk will be staffed during normal business hours for Texas Springs/Sunset Campgrounds from Feb. 1 to April 15, 2012 when it closes for the summer.

Reservations for Furnace Creek Campground can be made at www.recreation.gov. For information con-tact Death Valley National Park at (760) 786-3249.

Source: National Park ServiceHelp needed with burrowing owl projectsThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service needs volun-

teers to monitor burrowing owl artificial burrows at Floyd Lamb Park and Nellis Air Force Base in the Las Vegas Valley. Volunteer nest monitors must live close to these locations as this is a large time commitment.

Monitors will visit burrows once a week between April 1 and Aug. 1, for a for a half-hour observation pe-riod during which time the monitor will count the num-ber of owls, document the weather conditions, and re-cord behaviors of the owls on a data sheet. Observation periods must occur in one of the following periods:

1) 15 minutes before to 45 minutes after sunrise or2) 45 minutes before to 15 minutes after sunset.

see Nature Notes at bottom of Page 3

Gale Dupree

Nevada Wildlife – Winter, 2012 3

NEVADA WILDLIFE FEDERATION 2011 CONSERVATION ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Please complete the information below. Please submit your nomination by April 13, 2012 to NvWF, Attn.: Award Nominations, 6870 Soldela Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89156. Please call Robert Gaudet at (702) 438-2485 for more information.

____________________________________________________________________________________Name of nominator

____________________________________________________________________________________Organization or individual name and title

____________________________________________________________________________________Address

__________________________________________ _____________________________________Telephone E-mail address

NOMINEE FOR THE NEVADA WILDLIFE FEDERATION CONSERVATION AWARD

__________________________________________________________________________________Organization or individual name and title

__________________________________________________________________________________Address

__________________________________________ _____________________________________Telephone E-mail address

FOR RECOGNITION IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORY (check one only)

The Conservationist of the Year in each of the above categories will be selected based on the following criteria:

A conservationist, professional or unpaid, whose contribution to conservation has been sustained over a period of several years.

A person whose contribution to conservation is of such significance as to be know statewide.An organization that has made important accomplishments in conservation.An individual whose recognition would serve as an example to others.

Please answer each of the following questions with one succinct paragraph on a separate sheet of paper. Please do not exceed two pages.

What has this person/organization done specifically to further the cause of conservation in the selected category?

Has this person/organization had a history of commitment to conservation? Give dates/examples.Will this person/organization continue to further the cause of conservation? How?

1.

2.3.4.

1.

2.3.

Nominations sought for awardsNevada Wildlife Federation is seeking nominations

for its annual Conservation Achievement Awards. The awards are given to people or groups that have made significant contributions to conservation and natural re-source education in Nevada.

Categories are Wildlife, Legislator, Youth, Communicator, Educator, Organization, Hunter Educator, Soil, Water, Air, Forest, Conservationist of the

Year and Affiliate of the Year.Nominations will be accepted until April 13, 2012 for

the May 12, 2012 awards to be held at the Clark County Shooting Park Education Center in Las Vegas, Nev.

Call Robert Gaudet at (702) 438-2485 or e-mail robertpaul@quixnet.net for more information on the nominations or how to reserve your tickets for the awards.

Nevada Wildlife Federation, Inc.

PresentsThe 60th Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet

This year’s event will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at the Las Vegas Shooting Park, 11357 North Decatur Blvd., North Las Vegas, Nev. The

banquet will begin at 1 p.m.Along with our guest speaker, the banquet will fea-

ture a silent auction and raffle and will be catered by Chuck Former of the Road Kill Café. The menu will include the following:

Fresh Green Salad and Hot Dinner RollsBarbecued Chicken and Spare Ribs

Beef Brisket and Grilled Hot LinksGreen Bean Casserole and Baked Beans

Potato and Macaroni SaladsPeach Cobbler

Bottled Water, Soft Drinks and Coffee

Come with an empty stomach, and you will not go away hungry!

Ticket prices for the banquet are $25 for members and $30 for non-members. RSVP and pay for your tick-ets by May 8, 2012 to join in on the fun. There will be no banquet tickets sold at the door and everyone re-gardless of age must have a reservation to attend the banquet.

Make your check payable to: Nevada Wildlife Federation, Inc.

Please send your check or money order to:Nevada Wildlife Federationc/o Robert Gaudet, President6870 East Soldela DriveLas Vegas, Nevada 89156

OR

Nevada Wildlife Federationc/o Anita Wagner, Secretary2280 Armstrong LaneReno, Nevada 89509

The Annual Meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Any by-law changes must be on the meeting agenda. The new Federation officers will be voted in at this time.

For more information call: (702) 438-2485 or (702) 271-5573.

___ Wildlife___ Legislator___ Youth___ Communicator

___ Educator___ Organization___ Hunter Educator___ Soil

___ Water___ Forest___ Affiliate of the Year___ Air/Energy

___ Conservationist of the Year

Nature Notes from Page 2: When juvenile owls are 21 to 28 days old, three visits will be required in a week since this is the time that young owls are most easily counted.

If you want to participate or get more informa-tion, please contact Harry Konwin at (702) 515-5494 or Harry_Konwin@fws.gov.

The West Branch of Red Rock Audubon Society (RRAS) is looking for volunteers to monitor burrow-ing owl nest burrows in Pahrump Valley. See above for a description of nest burrow monitoring. If you want to participate or get more information contact Richard Cantino at (775) 727-0645 or richardcantino@att.net.

Red Rock Audubon Society will be starting the next

phase of the Floyd Lamb Park Burrowing Owl Habitat Enhancement Project, a joint RRAS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service project. In April or May, RRAS will be installing 18 new artificial burrows in the new envi-ronmental enhancement area of the park.

RRAS will be installing the burrows on several Saturdays. Work may include moving rocks, putting the parts of the artificial burrow together, and filling in soil around the burrows with shovels and rakes. If you are interested in helping, please contact Harry Konwin at (702) 515-5494 or Harry_Konwin@fws.gov.

Source: Red Rock Audubon Society NewsWildlife trivia question

Which character from mythology does the yellow-

pine chipmunk’s life history most emulate?1. Orpheus, because it “sings” to woo a mate.2. Diana, because the moon is especially important

to it and lights its night hunts for food.3. Hermes, because one member of a colony will

run quickly to a neighboring colony to warn of danger.4. Persephone, because it spends almost half of the

year underground.5. Yasgцr, a mythical figure sometimes mentioned

by the elders as host of the transcendent music festival of their youth, Wüdstock. (see answer below)

Source: BLM News Bytes

Answer: 4) Persephone, because it spends almost half of the year underground.

4 Nevada Wildlife – Winter, 2012

nevada Birding

Greetings birders and Happy New Year! I hope everyone got lots of bird-seed for gifts. When I happened to be in Gardnerville last week, I went to Laxague’s, which had the lowest overall prices (it’s different every time). I bought three big bags of seed: thistle, sunflower and a new wild bird/scratch mix. When John said I owed $105, I did a double take, so he broke it down, and … yikes! The sad thing is, I’d bought seed Dec. 20 at S&W in Carson City, so when I started totaling it in my head … well, I never to-tal my birdseed expenditures. (If I did, I’d have to stop!)

My green-thumb hubby Jeff plants for wildlife every chance he gets, and this helps, but this year we had no cra-bapples (or any other fruit) because of the spring freeze. So the American Robins and Cedar Waxwings migrat-ing through were looking forlorn at times until I put raisins or dried cranberries out for them. Happily, both those species are aquaphiles, so they come to the yard for water anyway.

Hard to say if it is because of the unusually warm, dry winter, but we’ve had more raptors in our Jacks Valley yard, especially Cooper’s Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawks and Northern Harriers. We’ve also seen more flying insects on our hikes lately, and the other day, a mosquito buzzed me in the night!

Keep an eye out: Speaking of un-usual sightings, I want to alert everyone to keep a close eye on your thistle feed-ers, as a very rare (for us) bird is showing up sporadically across the United States. in what’s called a “southerly irruption.” It’s the Common Redpoll, a cute little bird that looks like a cross between a Cassin’s Finch, Pine Siskin and House Sparrow. They are small birds, found in Canada and upper northern states. A female was seen in Fernley this week! I was poised to drive there to see the bird, but she was only seen for one day and may have moved on to, who knows … maybe to our area! Above right are some photos – the one with more pink is the male. Incidentally, birders from Las Vegas raced up here to see the red-poll as soon as it was posted on the Reno Audubon listserve; that is how passion-ate birders can be!

Look for raptors: I want to remind everyone that this is winter raptor season. Its time to start looking for birds of prey that winter here including Red-tailed Hawks, Ferruginous Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks, Northern Harriers, Cooper’s Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels, Merlins, Prairie Falcons, Peregrine Falcons, and of course, Golden Eagles and Bald Eagles, both of whom increase their pres-ence here during calving season.

The end of February will bring the annual Eagles & Agriculture event sponsored by Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce, and although some have called it a “Keystone Kops” commercial event, (the activities are not free), there is some opportunity for education.

I may be out of town for it, but if there

are enough of you who would like to do a free weekend raptor field trip, I would be happy to lead one at a different time. Let me know if you’re interested. I started leading this annual raptor trip with the late Jack Walters in the early 1990s and that is where E&A grew from! Notes from the Neighborhoods:l Cathy and Ian in Smith Valley

have a Black Phoebe, Dark-eyed Juncos, California Quail and American Robins “hanging around.” She is just feeding scratch right now, which is a great al-ternative when you don’t want to break the bank ($105? Really?). Cathy told me about feeding grape jelly to orioles.l Fred from east Carson Valley saw

two Bald Eagles near Genoa in December, as well as Hooded Mergansers, Ring-necked Ducks, Bufflehead, Gadwalls, Mallards and Canada Geese in the pond off Foothill road north of Genoa. He also recently saw a Ross’s Goose at Foothill and Muller.l Chuck in Indian Hills took a

photo (at top right) of a clever Sharp-shinned Hawk waiting for feeder birds to come in to his seed feeder. Hard to see, but the red eye means it’s an adult.l Julie in Carson City sent in this

photo (right) asking what the little brown and white bird could be. This is an ex-cellent example of partial albinism, and it’s not as uncommon as you might think … these birds are all our common House Sparrows!l Awesome budding birder Bambi

from Sunridge saw 57 American Robins in the trees outside her house last week! They were visiting our mutual

friend Gayle’s backyard fountain, crowd-ing in for water. She noticed some differ-ent birds in the flock. They were Cedar Waxwings in an overhanging olive tree. Bambi also saw Mountain Bluebirds near Buckeye Road in Minden and a Bald Eagle at Riverview Park in Carson City.

Andi from south Hwy. 88 in Carson Valley, sent a pic (at right) of a Northern Flicker female in a frozen pose after a Cooper’s Hawk landed nearby. With this species’ bright coloring, standing still is definitely the best way to avoid becom-ing a predator’s lunch.

I just witnessed the same behavior at one of my suet feeders with a Downy Woodpecker female who froze herself onto a branch for several minutes (photo at right below). I began to wonder if the predator she was avoiding was me (and my cat) looking at her out the window!

Birding movie returns: If, like me, you missed the eye blink that was the release of the birding film The Big Year, good news! It’s scheduled to be released to DVD Jan. 31, We will definitely be checking it out. Even with some silliness in the film, several birding friends who saw it did enjoy it … apparently there’s inside stuff only we can appreciate!

Another good-bye: We have lost a special birder, someone with a great sense of humor and enthusiasm. Bob Borowick, the husband of one of my fa-vorite former co-workers died too young before Christmas. Our heart goes out to Debby and Bob’s family. He was a big, big man with a gentle heart. He is pic-tured (at right bottem) on a trip we took to Swan Lake a couple years ago.

Good birding all, Linda Hiller, greenacres23@charter.net, www.saving-mystories.com, (775) 267-3580.

Winter seed expenses are for the birds

Common Redpoll female (top) male (above)

Sharp-skinned hawk waiting at feeder in Indian Hills.

Center bird, partial albino House Sparrow in Carson City.

A Northern Flicker female south of Hwy. 88 in Carson Valley.

Downy Woodpecker female in Jacks Valley.

The late Bob Borowick at Swan Lake.

Nevada Wildlife – Winter, 2012 5

Bureau of Land Management

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) will accept public comment through Feb. 7, 2012 on environmental impact state-ments that evaluate greater sage-grouse conservation measures in land use plans in 10 Western states (Wyoming is del-evoping a plan on its own).

The BLM and the USFS have iden-tified the following preliminary issues to address in its environmental analy-sis: greater sage-grouse habitat man-agement, fluid minerals, coal mining, hard rock mining, mineral materials, rights-of-way, renewable energy de-

velopment, wildfire, invasive species, grazing, off highway vehicle manage-ment and recreation.

Comments and requests to be add-ed to the mailing list may be made to BLM by e-mail: sagewest@blm.gov, or by mail: Western Region Project Manager, BLM Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Blvd., Reno, NV 89502. Find more information at the BLM’s greater sage-grouse Web site: www.blm.gov/sagegrouse. E-mail questions to: sagequery@blm.gov.

Be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time.

In March 2010, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) ruled that list-ing the species for protection under the Endangered Species Act was “war-ranted but precluded.”

The FWS said that it had other, higher priority species it needed to ad-dress first, but that it would reexamine the greater sage-grouse and determine if it needed to be listed at a later date.

In its finding, the FWS said the BLM and the USFS are not “fully im-plementing the regulatory mechanisms available” to ensure species conserva-tion. The BLM and the USFS are ad-dressing the FWS concerns through the planning process.

Public comment sought for planning process

Mitch SnowBureau of Land Management

Bureau of Land Management issued two Instructional Memorandums (IMs) in late December that will help guide both immediate and longer-term conser-vation actions for conserving the greater sage-grouse and its sagebrush habitat in 10 western states while maintaining a ro-bust economy in the West:

• The Interim Management IM provides immediate direction for man-agement of greater sage-grouse habi-tat while the agency works on updating multiple land-use plans. The measures in this IM represent a starting point that will help the agency determine whether to authorize or continue certain activi-ties in greater sage-grouse habitat while it works on updating multiple land-use plans, known as Resource Management Plans (RMPs).

• The Planning Direction IM estab-lishes consistent protection measures for the species and its habitat to be in-corporated into one or more alternatives for analysis in the Environmental Impact Statements that will be used to amend the BLM’s RMPs. The decisions in these RMPs will provide for longer term con-servation for greater sage-grouse.

“The aim of these science-based measures is to maintain and restore flourishing populations of greater sage-grouse and sagebrush habitat,” BLM Director Bob Abbey said. “We are work-ing to do this in a way that protects the health of our land, while also facilitating safe and responsible energy development and recreational opportunities that power our economy.”

The guidance in these documents applies to BLM activities in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. Greater sage-grouse currently use up to 47 million acres of land managed by the BLM.

The memorandums build on a se-ries of federal and state initiatives un-derway to protect the species while ensuring that energy production, recre-ational access and other uses of federal lands continue. These programs include Wyoming’s Sage Grouse Initiative devel-oped under the leadership of Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead; the BLM’s National Greater Sage-Grouse Planning Strategy; and the ongoing implementation of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Comprehensive Strategy.

On Dec. 9, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Gov. Mead held a meet-ing with representatives from eight west-ern states to discuss efforts to conserve the greater sage-grouse and identify next steps in implementing a landscape level strategy, including development of the Interim Management IM. Participants discussed current strategies, challenges, and areas of collaboration for local, state and federal governments to proactively address the needs of the species to en-sure its long-term health and stability.

The states were told that the guid-ance would be issued in December as part of the BLM’s efforts to implement a landscape level strategy that will benefit

the species while maintaining a robust economy in the West. Both IMs are in-tegral parts of the agency’s strategy for working collaboratively with local, state, and federal governments to proactively address the needs of the species to en-sure its long-term health and stability.

Both IMs cover a wide range of is-sues associated with carrying out the BLM’s multiple-use mandate on public lands in the west. Among the topics cov-ered by the IMs are:

• Vegetation Management• Wildfire Emergency Stabilization

and Burned Area Rehabilitation• Wildfire Suppression and Fuels

Management• Rights of way for facilities such as

roads, powerlines, pipelines and wind farms

• Leasable minerals, such as coal, oil and gas

• Locatable minerals, such as gold, silver and copper

• Saleable minerals, such as sand, stone and gravel

• Grazing• Recreation• Travel Management• Grasshopper and Mormon Cricket

Control and Management• Wild Horse and Burro

Management • Realty Actions, such as land ex-

changes, transfers and sales; and• Vegetation and Resources

MonitoringThe two IMs focus on actions pro-

posed to take place in Preliminary Priority Habitat, which has the highest conserva-

tion value for maintaining the species and its habitat. Priority sage-grouse habitat includes breeding, late brood-rearing and winter concentration areas. The identifi-cation of these areas was a collaborative effort between the BLM and the respec-tive state wildlife agencies. Under the al-ternative set out in the Planning Direction IM, human-caused disturbance in prior-ity habitat would be limited to less than 2.5 percent of the species’ total habitat, regardless of surface ownership. In prior-ity habitat areas where more than 2.5 per-cent of the surface area has already been disturbed, the BLM would not authorize any further disturbance.

The guidance also covers actions in Preliminary General Habitat, which was also identified through a collaborative effort with state wildlife agencies.

BLM issues greater sage-grouse conservation guidance

Bee nesting blocks. Many species of solitary bees use small cavities in wood. Create your own bee nesting block by drilling different-diameter holes in a block of preservative-free wood.If it’s not a safety hazard, consider leaving a dead tree or limb undisturbed to provide natural nesting habitatGround nesting sites. Simply maintaining a small, undisturbed patch of bare ground will provide nest-ing habitat for ground-nesting bees. It is best if the site faces south so that it gets the most sun possible during the day.3) Avoid or Limit Pesticide Use. Pesticides can kill

more than the target pest. Some pesticide residues can kill pollinators for several days after the pesticide is ap-plied. Pesticides can also kill natural predators, which can lead to even worse pest problems. Consider the fol-lowing when managing pests in your garden:

Try removing individual pests by hand if possible (wearing garden gloves)Encourage native predators with a diverse garden habitatExpect and accept a little bit of pest activityIf you must use a pesticide, choose one that is the least toxic to non-pest species, does not persist on vegetation, and apply it in the evening when most pollinators are not as active. Read and follow label directions carefully. Recommendations for Minimizing Pesticide

Impacts to Pollinators. Poisoning of non-target insects, including bees, and other pollinators are more likely to occur when plants are in bloom. Several precautions can minimize the impact to non-target insects and other pol-linators. The following are some suggestions that may minimize the impacts of pesticide use to non-target or-ganisms.

Apply pesticides only when needed, using pest scouting (routine field checks for the presence/absence of pests) to minimize the need for application.

Leave buffer zones between areas of pesticide ap-plication and sensitive species, sensitive habitats, water, and potential nectar sources.

Use the least toxic pesticide recommended for con-trol of the target pest at the lowest effective rate.

Avoid applying pesticides while crops or wildflow-ers adjacent to or near fields are in bloom.

If pesticides must be applied while crops are in bloom, apply in late afternoon or at night when pollina-tors are least likely to be working the blooms. However, while timing application to avoid flowering periods or diurnal activity periods may reduce the impacts of pes-ticides to many pollinators, some pollinators, such as Normia bees that rest in crop fields overnight, may be harmed by nighttime application of pesticides Similarly, moths that are active at night may be harmed by night-

•

•

•

•

•

••

time application of pesticides.Regardless of application time, if toxins remain on

plant parts, pollinators such as leafcutter bees still may be harmed if they bring contaminated leaves back to their nest. Likewise, the larvae of butterflies that pol-linate plants may be harmed by ingesting toxins remain-ing on plant parts.

Always target pesticide applications to avoid con-taminating water, habitat of rare species, and adjacent wildflowers.

Reduce the amount of drift by using ground equip-ment instead of aerial spraying to apply pesticides. (Note: When pesticides are applied by aircraft, as much as 50 percent to 75 percent of the chemicals sprayed can miss their target, leading to inadvertent exposure of non-target organisms such as pollinators.

Avoid drift of pesticides onto plants that are attrac-tive to bees by not spraying under windy conditions.

Rinse pesticide tanks thoroughly between pesticide applications to avoid cross-contamination of pesticides.

Use the pesticide formulation least hazardous to bees that will control the pest involved.

Use liquid sprays or granules instead of dusts. Avoid use of microencapsulated pesticides, as they

are similar in size to pollen, and may cause severe poi-sonings as has been documented with microencapsu-lated methyl parathion.

Notify beekeepers several days before applying any pesticide that is hazardous to honey bees.

Develop and implement training programs to in-crease awareness and knowledge of pollinators and their activity patterns among pesticide applicators.

Develop public outreach information to heighten awareness of the potential role that pesticides may play in the decline of pollinators.

6 Nevada Wildlife – Winter, 2012

Backyard Wildlife HaBitats

Dolores SavignanoU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently re-leased two new pollinator conservation and educa-tion products, an 8-page brochure entitled: Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden and stickers featuring eight different pollinators. You can see both these products, and find out how to order them at https://inside.fws.gov/go/post/EC-Pollinators.

Attracting Pollinators to your Garden is also avail-able for downloading from www.fws.gov/pollinators/PollinatorPages/YourHelp.html. The public can order these brochures through the Publications Center, but they are not available individually. They can be pur-chased in packages of 50. Below is an excerpt of the new materials available at www.fws.gov/pollinators.

Threats to PollinatorsHabitat Loss:

The main threats facing pollinators are habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation. As native vegetation is replaced by roadways, manicured lawns, crops and non-native gardens, pollinators lose the food and nest-ing sites that are necessary for their survival.

Migratory pollinators face special challenges. If the distance between the suitable habitat patches along their migration route is too great, smaller, weaker individuals may die during their journey.

Pesticides:The improper use of pesticides can negatively im-

pact pollinators and their habitats. Pesticides include products, such as weed killers and insecticides, which are designed to prevent, destroy, repel or reduce pests such as insects, mice and other animals, weeds, fungi, bacteria and viruses. Pesticides are used in nearly every home, business, farm, school, hospital and park in the United States and are found almost everywhere in our environment.

By their very nature, most pesticides pose some risk of harm to humans, animals or the environment because they are designed to kill or adversely affect living organ-isms. However, at the same time, pesticides are useful to society because they are used to control or kill potential disease-causing organisms and insects, weeds and other pests. Therefore, it is important to use these products only when necessary (rather than on a regular schedule), use the minimum amount required to be effective, and to target application so that only the intended pest is affected.

Pollinators need your help!There is increasing evidence that many pollinators

are in decline. However, there are some simple things you can do at home to encourage pollinator diversity and abundance.

1) Plant a pollinator garden. The most obvious need for pollinating species is a diversity of nectar and pollen sources. Consider the following when choosing plants for your garden:

Choose plants that flower at different times of the year to provide nectar and pollen sources through-out the growing seasonPlant in clumps, rather than single plants, to better attract pollinatorsProvide a variety of flower colors and shapes to at-tract different pollinators.Whenever possible, choose native plants. Native plants will attract more native pollinators and can serve as larval host plants for some species of pol-linators. Check field guides to find out which plants the larval stage of local butterflies eat. Contact your local or state native plant society for help.2) Provide nesting sites. Different pollinators have

different needs for nesting sites. Some examples are:

•

•

•

•

Las Vegas state nursery sells conservation plantsNevada Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

LAS VEGAS – The Nevada Division of Forestry State Tree Nursery in Las Vegas is open to the public year-round and is offering many adapted species for land owners in the Las Vegas area.

The nursery is designed to assist landowners by providing plant material suitable for conserva-tion uses such as, but not limited to, windbreaks, soil erosion control, water conservation and wild-life habitats.

The nursery has more than 50 species avail-able right now. For the nursery policy and plant list, please visit www.forestry.nv.gov/main/nursey_c.htm.

Most species are available in 1-gallon con-tainers for $2.50, but some species are offered in larger 5- and 15-gallon containers for $8.25 and $22.00.

The nursery is open by appointment only on Tuesday and Thursday, and Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the month of April. The nursery is located at 9600 Tule Springs Dr.

Call (702) 486-5411 for information.

Agency offers new pollinator education

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently released this 8-page brochure on how to attract pollinators to your garden.

Nevada Wildlife – Winter, 2012 7

Margie KleinNevada Department of Wildlife

Future conservationists are invited to participate in the 2012 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program. Sponsored by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Duck Stamp Program provides an oppor-tunity for America’s youth to learn about conservation and express their artistic talents at the same time. The contest is open to youngsters in Kindergarten through 12th grade.

This year marks the 20-year anniver-sary of the program, celebrating the con-nection of children with nature through science and art.

Much more than just an art contest, entry rules require the students to learn about wetland habitat and the principles of wildlife conservation by researching one of 46 waterfowl species listed by the USFWS.

They conclude their learning with a rendering of their chosen species. Students may also write a conservation message that sums up their lesson.

A new feature of the program this

year is a Junior Duck Stamp Program Curriculum for teachers to use in the classroom with their students while pre-paring for the contest.

According to Nevada Department of Wildlife Conservation Education Supervisor Doug Nielsen, “The contest is a great opportunity to participate in one of the original conservation programs in the U.S.”

Junior duck stamps are akin to reg-ular duck stamps, which are a 77-year tradition with USFWS. Federal duck stamps chosen each year have includ-ed artwork by such renowned artists as Owen J. Gromme and J. N. “Ding” Darling. Youngsters may join their ranks by entering in their own version of the competition.

Junior duck stamps sell for $5 each, and are available at post offices, wildlife refuges, sporting good stores, and over the Internet.

“Funding generated through the sales of the stamps directly benefits waterfowl and its habitat,” Nielsen added.

Entries are accepted in four catego-ries: Kindergarten – 3rd grade, 4th – 6th

grade, 7th – 9th grade and 10th – 12 grade. Students first enter their artwork in a state contest, the winners of which are entered into the national competi-tion. Every entrant receives a certificate of participation, and prizes for state win-ners will vary.

Top national winners receive cash prizes, and the first-place winner re-ceives a trip to Washington, D.C., with one adult for the First Day of Sale cer-emony in June or July.

The national winner of the 2011 contest was Abraham Hunter of Illinois, with the Nevada “Best of Show” win-ner being Emry Layton of Las Vegas. The 2011 Conservation Message Contest winner was Allison Armstrong from Arkansas, with her message of “Spread Your Wings, create a splash, make a dif-ference.”

The 2012 contest is accepting en-tries now through March 15, 2010. For more information, go to www.fws.gov/juniorduck or contact the Nevada con-test coordinator, Donna Withers, (775)-423-5287 Ext. 231, or donna_withers@fws.gov.

Aaron MeierNevada Department of Wildlife

You can almost imagine Pennsylvania artist Gerald Putt trying not to smile when he learned that the species for this year’s contest was an American wigeon. You see Putt has had quite a bit of suc-cess with the wigeon, including his very first win in the Pennsylvania duck stamp contest in 1991.

Apparently, he would have had every reason to smile as Putt has been named the winner of the 2012 Nevada Duck Stamp Art Contest.

“It’s a very proud feeling of accom-plishment,” said Putt. “Just knowing you’re the one who has won the competi-tion for this year, feels great. I like com-petition in just about anything. Even if I lose, I try and try to get better at what-ever the contest.”

The contest, sponsored by the Nevada Waterfowl Association and sanctioned by the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), drew a total of 18 entries from seven states. All of the winning entries can be viewed on the NDOW Web site at www.ndow.org/wild/stamp.

The winning entry in the annual art contest was selected by a panel of seven judges including two Nevada wildlife commissioners. Putt’s artwork featur-ing an American wigeon gliding through the water will now grace Nevada’s 2012-2013 State Duck Stamp.

While this is the first time Putt has won the Nevada contest, he has had a re-cord of success with multiple wins in sev-eral other states, including Pennsylvania (nine wins), North Carolina (five wins), Illinois (three wins) and Colorado.

The subject of this year’s contest was the American wigeon, a medium-sized duck that is larger than a teal, but smaller than a pintail. The wigeon can be distin-

guished from other dabblers by its round head, short neck and small black-tipped bill. The breeding male (drake) has an ir-idescent mask of green feathers from its eyes to the back of its head, and a white colored cap running from the crown of its head to its bill. This white patch gives the wigeon its other common name, bald-pate (meaning bald headed). Their breast and sides are pinkish-brown with a white underbelly.

“The colors and patterns make them a very handsome species,” said Putt. “My very first duck stamp win was with a pair of wigeons.”

Putt, who placed third in last year’s contest, also has some advice for other artists who might fall short in contests such as this. “Persistence pays off. Don’t

give up just because you don’t win in the first couple tries. Small steps are some-times the only way to improvement. But I don’t get discouraged by a few stumbles along the way. I’ve always said an art-ist cannot rest on one’s laurels but must strive to improve with each and every painting.”

The Nevada Duck Stamp sells for $10 and is required to be purchased by any person who hunts migratory birds in Nevada. Stamps can also be purchased by collectors and the general public to support Nevada wildlife and habitat con-servation efforts.

A limited number of prints may also be issued, and are available for fundrais-ing for wildlife-related and other conser-vation organizations.

Wigeon wins Nevada duck stamp contest

Provided by Nevada Department of WildlifeGerald Putt of Pennsylvania has won the 2012 Nevada Duck Stamp Art Contest with this painting of a wigeon.

2012 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest open

BLM seeks comments on Searchlight wind project

Las Vegas – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Las Vegas Field Office is initiating a 90-day scoping pe-riod to solicit review and comment on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Notice of Segregation address-ing a proposed wind energy facility near Searchlight, Nev. The right-of-way appli-cation area encompasses approximately 18,789.71 acres of BLM-administered public lands. The permanent footprint of the project as proposed would be approx-imately 163 acres. The public comment period will close March 18.

Publication of the Notice of Availability in the Jan. 20 Federal Register initiates the 90-day public re-view and comment period on the Draft EIS for the Searchlight Wind Energy, LLC proposal. Scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media and on the BLM Web site at www.blm.gov/nv.

BLM has determined that a tem-porary segregation of the public land is necessary to maintain the status quo while it processes right-of-way applica-tions. About 18,789.71 acres are segre-gated from new applications and claims under public land laws for a period of two years, including location under the Mining Law, but not the Mineral Leasing Act or Materials Act, subject to valid ex-isting rights.

The proposal is to construct and op-erate a wind energy generating facility that would produce 200 megawatts of electricity. The proposed wind turbines would be 415-feet tall. The proposed project would require the construction of new access roads; two electrical sub-stations; an overhead transmission line connecting the substations; an electri-cal interconnection facility/switchyard; an operation and maintenance building; and temporary and permanent laydown areas. Three permanent meteorological masts would remain on the site to mea-sure the wind speed and direction across the site over the life of the project. The Searchlight Wind Energy Project would generate and deliver electrical power to the electrical transmission grid by 2013 via an interconnection with the Western Area Power Administration, Davis-Mead 230-kilovolt transmission line.

Only written comments will be ac-cepted. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Web site: www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo/blm_programs/energy/searchlight_wind_energy.html.

E-mail: BLM_NV_SNDO_SearchlightWindEnergyEIS@blm.gov.

Fax: 702-515–5010, attention Gregory Helseth.

Mail: BLM Las Vegas Field Office, Attn: Gregory Helseth, 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130–2301.

8 Nevada Wildlife – Winter, 2012

Nevada Department of Wildlife

Congratulations to Nevada Department of Wildlife Education Coordinator Margie Klein and her award winning newsletter Southern Nevada Wild. Klein was recognized by The Wildlife Society in November after the Conservation Education Award Committee selected Southern Nevada Wild, Volumes 1-4, for the 2011 Conservation Education Award in the category “Writings-Article.” The award recogniz-es written material which effectively conveys sound conservation concepts to the public.

Southern Nevada Wild is a newsletter that Margie has built up over four years for students and teachers to work together and learn about conservation. The newsletter included general wildlife interest articles, wildlife news, trivia, local events, Project Wild up-dates and kids’ activities.

Margie distributes the newsletter quarterly to teachers and other contacts. It is also posted on local teacher and environmental groups’ Web sites, as well as being featured by the Nevada Literacy Program.

When asked about the award, Margie said, “It’s great to have your work recognized. It’s also fulfill-ing when others appreciate the importance of teaching conservation values to our youth, specifically through the southern region wildlife education program.”

The Wildlife Society is a professional interna-tional non-profit scientific and educational associa-tion dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship through science and education.

provided by Margie KleinConservation Education Coordinator Margie Klein of Nevada Department of Wildlife was honored by The Wildlife Society for her publication Southern Nevada Wild.

Wild education

NDOW staffer gains national recognition for education newsletter

Find past issues of Southern Nevada Wild at www.ndow.org/learn/programs/region/south/index.shtm.

NDOW asks anglers to release bass with red tagsNevada Department of Wildlife

Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) is asking Lake Mead anglers who catch striped bass with red tags to release them. Stripers with red tags are part of a study NDOW hopes will shed light on the fish’s movement pat-terns and help them identify their preferred habitat.

“One of our objectives is to provide anglers with in-formation that will help them locate new fishing areas and give them an understanding of what to look for when trying to locate a school of striped bass,” said Debora Herndon, NDOW fisheries biologist.

On Dec. 2, NDOW fisheries biologists released 19 striped bass with surgically implanted sonic transmitters. These transmitters emit a signal that biologists can track using telemetry equipment. Biologists plan to complete weekly status checks on the fish in order to determine the fishes’ location at the time and identify their habitat of choice.

Anglers will recognize a fish that is part of the study by the red Floy tag that is attached alongside its dorsal fin. Anyone who catches one of these fish is encouraged to re-cord the location where they caught the fish, including GPS coordinates if they have the ability, and the time of day. Report this information to Herndon at (702) 486-6740.

Nevada Department of WildlifeNevada Department of Wildlife is asking anglers at Lake Mead to release all striped bass with red tags.

BLM seeks input on Ruby Pipeline projectELKO, Nev.— The Bureau of Land Management

(BLM), Elko District Office, seeks public input on a proposed pipeline from Ruby Pipeline’s main line to Barrick Goldstrike’s operations in northern Elko county.

Energy Operations Management (EOM), based in Sacramento, Calif., has proposed constructing an approximate 24-mile, 8-inch to 12-inch natural gas pipeline from the Ruby Pipeline at a main line valve near Willow Creek Reservoir to the mill at Barrick Goldstrike.

Specialists within BLM have coordinated with EOM to generate a pipeline route that would mini-mize impacts to sage-grouse leks, cultural resources along Boulder Creek and riparian values along China Creek. EOM is requesting a temporary Right-Of-Way (ROW) for construction of an 80-foot width over pub-lic lands with a permanent ROW of 30-foot after con-struction. A map of the proposed route can be viewed at on.doi.gov/elkoBLM under NEPA, Projects under National Environmental Policy Act review.

An environmental assessment is being developed for this project. Input on this project will be accepted until Feb. 29 by Kirk Laird, Special Projects Manager, at (775) 753-0272 or by e-mail at klaird@blm.gov.

BLM seeks comment on Red Rock Hazardous Fuels Reduction Environmental Assessment

Las Vegas – The Bureau of Land Management, Southern Nevada District Office, Office of Fire Management announces the availably of an environ-mental assessment that analyzes hazardous fuels re-duction treatments within Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The public comment period will end Feb. 27.

The proposed action is to use two herbicides to treat and reduce the amount of non-native invasive an-nual grasses and their seed bank to create fuel breaks. Alternative B would remove hazardous fuels by mow-ing. Alternative C would remove hazardous fuels by mechanical blading. Alternative D is no action. All al-ternatives, except the no-action alternative, would cre-ate 300-foot fuel breaks along roads, trails and natural features and would compose 2,114 acres of treatment

along approximately 65 miles. The proposed action includes an additional 2,346 acres of treatment within existing burn scars.

To view the environmental assessment, visit www.nv.blm.gov/vegas and select National NEPA Register Page under Links of Interest.

Public meetings will be held at the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center on February 8, 2012 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. When participants enter the fee booth at the entrance of the 13-Mile Scenic Drive, they should tell the attendant that they are participating in the public meetings and fees will be waived.

In addition to the public meetings, written com-ments may also be addressed to Greg Marfil, BLM Southern Nevada District Office, 4701 North Torrey Pines, Las Vegas, Nev., 89130, e-mailed to BLM_NV_SNDO_RedRock_HazFuel_EA@blm.gov or faxed to (702) 515-5023.

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying infor-mation – may be made publicly available at any time.

BLM rebuilds Sacramento Pass Recreation AreaIt is not entirely out with the old, but it is in with

the new as Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely District reconstructs the 17-year-old Sacramento Pass Recreation Area, located alongside U.S. Hwy. 50 about an hour’s drive east of Ely.

The district is reconstructing the increasingly popular recreation area to improve visitor access and safety. Improvements to the site include new camp-site designs and furnishings, sun shelters and toilet facility, regraded roadways and a reconstructed fish-ing pond that will feature an accessible fishing deck. The improved facilities will more closely comply with Federal Disability Act requirements and be designed to be environmentally friendly, where practical.

Sacramento Pass is one of the district’s high-est profile recreation areas because of its location on the highway, which serves as the main travel corri-dor across central Nevada, and its proximity to Great Basin National Park.

Bureau of land ManageMent roundup