#blmnevada

[mypubliclands]

Infrastructure improvements at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Designated in 1982, the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a BLM-managed area comprised of 198,000 acres of nationally significant geological, archaeological, ecological, cultural, scenic, scientific, wildlife, riparian, wilderness, endangered species, and recreation resources. Since 1982, visitation to the area has increased fourfold. Increasing visitation manifested into a deteriorated roadway, disturbance to sensitive roadside vegetation, unsafe pedestrian-vehicle interaction, and stranded vehicles during flash flood events.

To address the transportation needs, the Central Federal Lands Division of the Federal Highway Administration (CFL) in partnership with the BLM proposed a multi-phased suite of infrastructure improvements, such as the creation of two new low water crossing bridges completed in 2016, a state-of-the-art flood control system; repaving the entire Scenic Drive at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, plus a redesign and expansion of four parking areas (increasing parking capacity by about 200 spaces) in 2017; and addition of new restrooms, interpretive signage, landscaping and benches; and installation of a new fee station at Red Rock Campground.

Photos courtesy of Federal Lands Highway, Central Federal Lands Division office and by BLM Nevada.

[mypubliclands]

Vico, BLM Nevada’s only K-9, retires

“Vico has always had dedication and persistence in his duties. He is probably the happiest BLM employee with just some dog food and a piece of hose,” said Dave Stolts, BLM Southern Nevada Supervisory Ranger. Stolts has been Vico’s handler since 2011 when Vico was brought into the BLM’s K-9 program. 

In the six years that he has been on the job, Vico has been involved in assignments all over Nevada and across the west. He has been a part of operations on public lands where hundreds of people were hosting “raves” on the desert. He had details on the Mexican border trailing smugglers and has made a number of felony arrests. The most important part of their duties, Stolts said, was the outreach to schools, churches and special events. 

“We really feel like the face of the agency at the special events we went to,” Stolts said. “Vico is such a unique police dog and handles being petted and around crowds really well.” 

Vico has the personality that many law enforcement dogs don’t. He has the ability to be calm and collected, and when it’s time to work, he gets the job done. Stolts remembers when they were working near the Mexican border following a group of smugglers. The law enforcement team had hiked in rough terrain all day and had decided they would head back for the night. As the team was leaving the area, Vico picked up the scent of the smugglers on his own. The rest of the team had basically called it a day, but Vico never quit. The team was able to follow the smugglers trail and catch them at a highway. They ended up making an arrest. Stolts said he didn’t even signal Vico to work, but he had the sensibility to never stop. 

This year, Stolts has accepted a supervisory role on the Southern Nevada District. There he will be supervising up to nine Law Enforcement Rangers and felt it was time to retire Vico. Stolts will continue to keep him in his retirement.

Story by Rita Henderson, BLM NV Social Media Lead. Photos by Dave Stolts, SNDO Supervisory Law Enforcement Ranger. 

[mypubliclands]

This year’s Bat Blitz in Nevada

Over 12 species were identified during this year's Bat Blitz. Each year the Nevada Department of Wildlife, the National Park Service, Nevada Natural Heritage Program, the U.S. Forest Service and the Great Basin Institute team up to trap bats. The goal is to learn more about the health and diversity of the bat species in the state. Kelsey Retich is a Wildlife Biologist in the Southern Nevada District in Las Vegas. Here, she provides her personal experience of the event.

"The two times I have had the privilege to attend the annual Nevada Bat Blitz have been amazing! They have been the highlights of my 1 ½ years at the Bureau of Land Management in Southern Nevada. Between getting to see these amazing mammals up close and meeting all of the incredible people that attend the event, nothing else compares.

A typical day during the Bat Blitz is trying to get as much sleep as you can during the day which is always tricky while camping because of the sunlight beating down on your tent. Luckily both Bat Blitzes I have attended have been at high elevations to the temperatures are much cooler than an average August day in Nevada.

Around 4:00 pm, the whole group of biologists from the different agencies get together and groups for the night are assigned. Shortly after that we head out to our assigned sites for the night. Upon arrival to the site, we evaluate the best placement for our nets to catch bats and then begin our set up. After set up is complete, you wait. You are waiting for the first bat of the night to fly over your head or for one to be picked up on the acoustic equipment. Once that happens, the real fun begins.

On a very busy night nets are opened and it is non-stop for the 4-5 hour period that we are trapping bats. Other nights there isn't much activity and you sit around in your group bundled up in jackets and blankets and play games or tell stories while occasionally checking the nets. As any good biologist knows the times with no activity or very little activity is still data worth collecting!

When there is a lot of bat activity, there is always something to do. For those who have proper training, they are working on getting bats out of the nets and quickly "processing", or taking data on the bats and then releasing them. Measurements that are taken include age, gender, reproductive status, forearm length, teeth wear and weight.

Before attending the Bat Blitz, I knew a little bit about bats but I admit I did not know much. After attending the Bat Blitz I can say confidently that I would be able to identify species that are found in Nevada quite easily. I learned so much about bats from the many experienced bat biologists that participated in the event."

[mypubliclands]

BLM Nevada’s New Approach to Wildfire Prevention

Story by Rita Henderson, BLM Nevada New Media Lead; and Rachel Wootton, WO National Conservation Lands. Photos by BLM.

This summer, BLM Nevada developed a coordinated fire prevention campaign which included three wildfire prevention teams and an innovative public engagement strategy. The teams were made up of BLM, USFS, and fire prevention staff from various states, who traveled around Nevada to share fire prevention information and reach target audiences. 

While each team provided critical fire prevention information, they all had a slightly different focus. The first team consisted of mostly BLM Nevada staff who traveled the entire state sharing safety messages on target shooting. The second team consisted of media experts from the BLM and USFS who focused on video, images, and media content for social and traditional media. The team used a wide array of strategies, from Facebook Live posts focusing on defensible space and fuel loading to informational videos and web content. The third team focused on reaching out of state visitors and those gearing up for hunting season. As a part of the campaign, the team developed educational materials to share wildfire prevention information in a new way.

BLM Nevada is using new ways to connect with the public and prevent wildfires. Through social media, written information, and in-person conversations, the teams spread information about human-caused wildfires. Visit and follow BLM Nevada on Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr to see more of the campaign and help us prevent wildfires!Here are some safety tips provided by the teams:

Keep campfires small and controllable, completely extinguish them before leaving, and bring water, bucket, and shovel just in case.

Secure trailer chains to avoiding starting a wildfire.

Avoid driving or parking vehicles in grassy areas where tall, dry grass could come in contact with exhaust or undercarriage of vehicles.

When shooting on public lands, don't shoot into dry grass or rocks that might sparks. Make sure you bring water, a shovel, and a fire extinguisher with you, just in case.

[mypubliclands]

Thanks for joining us during National Photography Month!

This May, we celebrated National Photography Month with photos from #yourpubliclands, tips from the experts, and some travel inspiration for your next trip to BLM-managed lands. Check out our Instagram for a recap of National Photography Month, and follow for more!

Photos courtesy of Jeff Sullivan, Richard Bednarski, John D’Onofrio, and Raymond Lee.

[mypubliclands]

Sagebrush in Prisons

Photos and story by Terah Malsam, BLM.

It all starts in the fall, when the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and volunteer seed collectors gather volumes of sagebrush seed from condensed stands of healthy sagebrush.  The seeds are then sent to Shannon Swim of the Institute for Applied Ecology, who distributes them to facilities participating in the Sagebrush in Prisons program.

The Sagebrush in Prisons program is touted as a success in its ecological effort toward restoring Greater Sage-grouse habitat and its ability to improve the inmates' lives. This year over 200,000 sagebrush seeds have been planted within the walls of three Nevada state prisons: Lovelock, Warm Springs, and the Northern Nevada Correctional Center.  The program is a joint effort between the BLM, Nevada Department of Corrections, and The Institute for Applied Ecology to supply strong, healthy sagebrush seedlings to restore Greater Sage-grouse habitat in fire-scorched areas.

"Its tough work at first,” said inmate John Flagg, “but then you get to see your accomplishment as the plants begin to bud and grow."

In the spring, a group of interested inmates are taught by Swim about the process of cultivating the seeds and their purpose in the bigger picture; how it affects Greater Sage-grouse and many other species' habitat.

Throughout the learning process, the inmates put their newfound knowledge to work, sowing the seeds through an efficient system they have set up with Swim's help.  They also create many of the tools themselves to get the job done correctly, like a dirt compactor, which can compact dirt in six seedling tubes at once.  

Once the sowing is complete, they spend the next several months caring for the seedlings.  They water, prune, and properly provide shade for the little plants as they grow to be the 6-7 inch seedlings that will leave each prison in the fall.  

After leaving the prisons, the seedlings travel to participating BLM districts in Nevada.  This year, the Winnemucca, Elko, and Susanville districts will reap the benefits.  In the Winnemucca District, the seedlings will go toward rehabilitating areas burned by fires, like the Monroe Fire that burned 11,000 acres last summer.  

The program is such a success it was able to double the amount of sagebrush seedlings it will produce this year.  Next year, participants and partners hope the program, just like the seedlings, will continue to grow.

[mypubliclands]

Fairy Shrimp on our Instagram Story at the Black Rock Desert Playa in Nevada!

The Black Rock Desert playa has come back to life with the high amounts of precipitation Nevada has encountered. Aquatic species that lie dormant on the playa, hatch when water levels make for the right environment. “Fairy shrimp” are one such species and can be seen in our Instagram Story today! There are other species and varieties that are common to desert playas in Nevada.

This year the Black Rock Desert playa has been home to a unique experience, receiving the most water many have seen in a few decades. As the winds continue this spring, the water recedes, meaning that these tiny creatures must reproduce and lay eggs quickly. Exploring your public lands can lead to some unforeseen discoveries!

Photo by Terah Malsam, BLM.

[mypubliclands]

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from the Bureau of Land Management!

Celebrate today on your public lands! Be sure to wear green, #getoutdoors, and find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more!