ELKO, Nev. – Volunteers are needed to assist the Bureau of Land Management, Elko District, Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) and Nevada Muley’s in planting sagebrush seedlings to improve winter habitat for mule deer, sage grouse and other species in the 2012 Willow burn area on Saturday, April 6.
The plantings will occur near Nelson Creek located east of Willow Creek Reservoir. Volunteers will meet at Willow Creek Reservoir on the Midas-Tuscarora County Road at 8:30 a.m. Depending on the number of volunteers, planting should conclude at 2:30 p.m. Volunteers will need 4-wheel drive vehicles; however, carpooling is encouraged and arrangements can be made when signing up.
Drinks, snacks and lunch are provided courtesy of Nevada Muley’s, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and improving mule deer and their habitat. All planting tools and materials will be provided as well. Volunteers will need to bring sturdy shoes, gloves and warm clothing.
The Willow Fire consumed 42,781 acres (33,265 private and 9,516 public) in a large portion of Preliminary Priority Habitat for Greater Sage-grouse (PPH) as well as affected Lahontan cutthroat trout and mule deer habitat. Seasonal habitat for sage-grouse impacted by the Willow Fire included nesting, brood rearing, summer, and winter habitats. In addition, the Willow Fire consumed three active sage grouse leks, and burned within two miles of four other active leks, one of which supported the largest number of sage-grouse attendance within the State of Nevada during the spring of 2012.
Volunteers need to sign up before April 2 by contacting Tom Warren at (775) 753-0355or by email at [email protected].
