A full agenda of natural resource conservation topics will be taken up when the Modoc-Washoe Experimental Stewardship Steering Committee meets Thursday, April 3rd, at 9:00a.m., at the Bureau of Land Management Surprise Field Office in Cedarville.
During the morning session committee members will complete organizational activities and hear reports from member organizations, the BLM and Modoc National Forest. Members will receive a status report on the Lassen 15 project on the Warner Mountain Ranger District.
Afternoon topics include discussion of fuel reduction projects to improve sage grouse habitat in the Buffalo-Skedaddle area of eastern Lassen County and an update on the west-wide efforts on conservation of sage grouse and their habitat.
The committee will also hear a report from its wild horse and burro management subcommittee, receive information on monitoring activities in the Warner Mountain Ranger District and receive a status report on a drought management environmental assessment being conducted by the BLM Surprise Field Office.
Public comments will be taken at 3:15 p.m.
The Modoc-Washoe group 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. The steering committee advises the BLM’s Surprise Field Office and the Modoc National Forest’s Warner Mountain Ranger District.
The committee has diverse membership including livestock grazing permit holders, representatives from the BLM and Forest Service and the California and Nevada Departments of Fish and Wildlife.
Other interests represented include the timber industry, invasive weed control interests, environmental and sporting interests from California and Nevada, and local government.
