BLM conducting aerial seeding on 2017, 2018 burn scars

BLM to conduct aerial seeding on 2017, 2018 burn scars

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho - For two weeks beginning in mid-January, the Bureau of Land Management Upper Snake Field Office will conduct aerial seeding operations across wildland fire burn scars from the 2017 and 2018 fire seasons. The BLM will broadcast seed approximately 52,000 acres of BLM-administered lands, utilizing both fixed and rotor-wing aircraft.

“When the smoke clears there is still work to do,” said Jeremy Casterson, BLM Upper Snake Field Office Manager. “Rehabilitating the land after a wildfire helps restore habitat and ward off invasive plants.”

The aerial operations will rehabilitate the 2018 Grassy Ridge fire near Dubois, the 2017 and 2018 fires near Menan Butte, and the 2017 Wildhorse and Lava Flow fires near Atomic City. Broadcast seeding will help restore ground cover, support water infiltration, prevent cheatgrass dominance and stabilize soils. The seed mix will be comprised of sagebrush and bunch grasses.

Idaho Falls District BLM teaches Basic Fire School to the Camas Creek RFPA

Idaho Falls District BLM teaches Basic Fire School to the Camas Creek Rangeland Fire Protection Association.

Camas Creek RFPA responded to Grassy Ridge Fire (99,173 acres), Indian Butte Fire (12,572) and many others during the 2018 fire season. They help protect 1.5 million acres.

All attendees learned basic fire suppression techniques and communication skills. They learned how to apply what they already know about local weather patterns to fire behavior. Instructors shared their experiences in fireline leadership, command, and safety.

Creation of the associations is a collaborative effort between local ranchers, the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL).

Idaho ranchers provide swift initial attack to rangeland fires because of their knowledge of the land and proximity to the fires. #BLMIFDFire

Prescribed Burning South of Burley, ID.

The Idaho Department of Lands will be conducting a pile burning project approximately 40 miles south of Burley, ID in the Jim Sage Mountains.  Burning will begin on Wednesday, January 30^th and continue through Friday, February 1^st.  The project will burn roughly 1700 piles of juniper that were cleared as part of a Cohesive Strategy Special Project that was grant funded  by the US Forest Service through the Idaho Department of Lands.  The project is located in two different units; one unit is approximately 4 miles east of Elba, ID, and the other is approximately 4 miles south-southwest of Almo, ID

The intention of the fuels treatment is to reduce juniper density to improve sage grouse habitat and create fuel breaks to protect existing sage habitat.