Members of the Modoc-Washoe Experimental Stewardship Program steering committee will discuss wide-ranging natural resource management topics when they convene for a field tour and meeting June 19th and 20th, in Modoc County. The tour and meeting are open to the public.
On Wednesday, June 19th, committee members will meet at 9:30a.m. at the Modoc National Forest Lassen Creek Campground northeast of Alturas and depart for a tour. Discussion topics will include black bear research, fisheries restoration, timber sales and research, and the Lassen Creek grazing environmental analysis.
Participants should bring food and beverages and dress for changing weather conditions. Members of the public must provide their own transportation. Click here for directions to the campground.
On Thursday, the meeting gets underway at 9:00a.m. at the Bureau of Land Management Surprise Field Station, 602 Cressler Street, in Cedarville. Those unable to attend can participate via teleconference. The toll-free phone number is 888-395-5718, and the passcode is 63986.
Morning agenda topics include reports from member agencies and organizations, an update on sage grouse management, a review of the grazing fee credit program and a presentation on ESP’s involvement with wild horse and burro management. Afternoon agenda topics include a discussion about the Lassen Creek grazing environmental assessment, a report on vacant grazing allotments, and an update on interagency rangeland monitoring. The committee will accept public comments at 1:00p.m.
The Modoc-Washoe steering committee is part of the national Experimental Stewardship Program, created by Congress in the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978.
The program encourages rangeland management innovation and incentives for improving conditions on public rangelands. It advises the BLM’s Surprise Field Station and the Modoc National Forest’s Warner Mountain Ranger District.
The committee has diverse membership including livestock grazing permit holders, representatives from the BLM, Forest Service, and the California and Nevada Departments of Fish and Wildlife. Other interests represented include the timber industry, invasive weed control interests, resource conservation districts, the National Resource Conservation Service, environmental and sporting interests from California and Nevada, and local government.
