2017 Provided for Livestock Forests and Grasslands Highlights: Grazing, Mineral Extraction, 2
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on all kinds of public and he mission of the private land stewardship U.S. Forest Service work across the state. is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity ● With the help of numerous of the nation’s forests and partners, we achieved all grasslands to meet the of our planned natural needs of present and future resource and public service generations. To implement this work for the benefit of mission, the U.S. Forest Service the public, including fire uses a five-year strategic plan stakeholders have made management, hazardous with specific direction for the toward achieving many fuels reduction, watershed agency. The plan contains four successes in caring for the land restoration, and fish outcome-oriented goals: and serving people. and wildlife habitat improvement. We also 1. Sustain Our National So here are a few 2017 provided for livestock Forests and Grasslands highlights: grazing, mineral extraction, 2. Deliver Benefits to the ● We worked closely with forest products, and People the State of Nevada, a variety of outdoor 3. Apply Knowledge the Bureau of Land recreation experiences. Globally Management (BLM), and We are proud and humbled 4. Excel as a High- the U.S. Fish and Wildlife to be entrusted with the Preforming Agency Service (USFWS) to stewardship of our public identify opportunities for We have worked hard on lands and look forward to developing credits under the Humboldt-Toiyabe another productive year in Nevada’s Conservation National Forest to meet the 2018 on the Humboldt-Toiyabe Credit System on public objectives for each goal since National Forest. the plan was introduced in lands to mitigate impacts to 2015. Featured in this “Year sage-grouse habitat. Sincerely, In Review”report are the ● We signed a Good Forest’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Neighbor Agreement with accomplishments toward the Nevada Departments those goals. I am very proud of Agriculture, Wildlife, of the tremendous efforts and Conservation and Bill Dunkelberger our dedicated employees, Natural Resources, enabling Forest Supervisor cooperators, partners, and enhanced collaboration Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Sustain Our National Forests and Grasslands Strategic Objectives: • Foster resilient and adaptive ecosystems • Mitigate wildfire risk • Conserve open space Deliver Benefits to the People Strategic Objectives: • Provide abundant clean water • Strengthen communities • Connect people to the outdoors Apply Knowledge Globally Strategic Objectives: • Advance knowledge • Transfer technology and applications • Exchange natural resource expertise Excel as a High-Preforming Agency Management Objectives: • Recruit a diverse workforce • Promote an inclusive culture • Attract and retain top employees U.S. Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. on forest, rangeland, and Service, BLM, USFWS, he Humboldt- watershed restoration projects scientists, landowners, Toiyabe National on more than 53 million acres conservation organizations, Forest is essential to the of federally managed lands in and many others. ecological, physical, biological, Nevada. economic, cultural, and social Project Decision Signed well-being of communities Credits Used in Nevada to The Forest issued a decision in Nevada and portions of Mitigate Sage-Grouse notice and final environmental eastern California. Through The State of Nevada released assessment on the Currant- direct natural resource the first credits for sale under Ellison Watershed Restoration management; the pursuit and its Conservation Credit System Project. The 185,000-acre exchange of new knowledge; to mitigate impacts to sage- project area is located on the and partnerships with private, grouse habitat. The system Ely Ranger District entirely county, state, and other was developed through a within the White Pine Range federal landowners, the Forest collaborative effort among about 30 miles southwest has the capability to support the State of Nevada, Forest of Ely, Nevada. The project sustainable will improve and stewardship. restore habitats for wildlife species Good Neighbor (e.g. sage-grouse, Authority Promotes desert bighorn Collaboration sheep, and mule deer) and important The State of vegetative Nevada, Forest communities (e.g. Service, and BLM sagebrush and signed a 10-year riparian areas). In Good Neighbor addition, it creates Authority Master (Top Photo) Nora Rasure, Forest Service Intermountain Regional Forester, signs fuel breaks and Agreement and the Good Neighbor Agreement at an event at the Galena Creek Visitor Center in reduces hazardous a Memorandum Reno, Nevada. (Bottom Photo) Other agency participants included (From Left To Right) Nora Rasure; Randy Moore, Forest Service Pacific Southwest Regional fuels to increase the of Understanding Forester; Sheila Anderson, Policy Advisor for the Office of Governor Brian success of managing making it easier for Sandoval; Jim Barbee, Nevada Department of Agriculture Director; Marci L. Todd, BLM Acting State Director; Brad Crowell, Nevada Department of Conservation wildfires within state and federal and Natural Resources Director; and Tony Wasley, Nevada Department of Wildlife and adjacent to the agencies to partner Director. project area. umboldt-Toiyabe National Forest employees and over 20 volunteers gathered at Sweetwater Flat on the Bridgeport Ranger District to remove pinyon pine and juniper seedlings, and small trees from important Bi-State sage-grouse breeding and nesting habitat. Volunteers were from the Sierra Club, Audubon Society, Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association, Eastern Sierra Land Trust, and surrounding communities. The Bridgeport Ranger District’s wilderness and trail crew were also on hand. “We worked in a unit that had been treated around 10 years ago, and it was a good time to go back to remove new conifer growth,” said Monique Nelson, Sage-Grouse Coordinator for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. “Pinyon and juniper grow on lands managed by the Forest Service, with above the low sagebrush providing perches another 280,000 acres of habitat managed by for predators like ravens and hawks that the BLM. watch for sage-grouse moving in the “This project was part of a greater effort to sagebrush. Sage-grouse nestlings and eggs preserve sage-grouse populations and prioritize are vulnerable to these predators.” conservation efforts across the Bi-State sage- “This project provided a great opportunity grouse range,” said Nelson. for a diverse group of people to come “Proactive conservation efforts like this help together and spend a day outside making to keep Bi-State sage-grouse off of the a difference,” added Nelson. “There were Endangered Species List,” said Susanna people from Reno, Carson City, Gardnerville, Danner, Land Conservation Program Director for Yerington, Bridgeport, Lee Vining, and Eastern Sierra Land Trust. elsewhere.” “Restoring habitat for sage-grouse also helps The Bi-State sage-grouse is a distinct us learn about our shared public lands and the population segment of the greater sage- wildlife that depends on them,” said Danner. grouse. Most of its habitat is found in “When people are connected to the land it Douglas, Esmeralda, Lyon, and Mineral is good for communities, and good for the Counties in Nevada, and Alpine, Inyo, and habitat. Ranchers, hunters, and birdwatchers Mono Counties in California. About 426,000 all can embrace the concept of a healthy sage acres of the bird’s sagebrush habitat is found ecosystem.” Photo: A YCC crew plants willow stakes as a part of the West Fork Carson Watershed Restoration Project in Hope Valley, California. he Humboldt-Toiyabe central Nevada; and working subject matter experts from National Forest plays a with Natural Resources other local, state, and federal pivotal role in providing Conservation Service. agencies. The goal of the a wide range of benefits meeting was to generate Stream Restoration Work to the American people. creative ideas and dialog Continues Land management that is about how private, non-profit, sustainable enables the Forest The Santa Rosa Ranger and government sectors to produce goods and services District continues to restore can collectively improve to meet multiple public meadows in the 23,720-acre management of the National demands. Managing complex North Fork Little Humboldt Recreation Area’s recreation land uses is a challenge, but River priority watershed in opportunities for the benefit of working collaboratively helps northern Humboldt County in the visiting public. the Forest be successful. Nevada. The District restored hydrologic function through Big Springs Mine Project Approved by Forest Watershed Management multiple treatment methods Team Receives Award in seven meadows including The Mountain City-Ruby The Forest’s Watershed stabilizing headcuts and Mountains-Jarbidge Ranger Management Team was raising grade level. The largest District approved Anova awarded the Soil and Water meadow treated was 60 acres. Metals USA LLC to begin Conservation Society’s Merit The District also started phase mining for gold at the former Award. The team received two of the planned restoration Big Springs Mine site, which this award for their work work the Holloway Meadow. was mined between 1987 protecting and enhancing These meadows are important and 1993. The mine is located watersheds on the Forest. habitat for sage-grouse and approximately 63 miles Specific accomplishments other wildlife. northwest of Elko, Nevada. include increasing stream The signed Big Springs Mine Community Recreation function at Hope