BLM spending $50 an acre to reseed burned Nevada rangeland

Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2000 | 9:29 a.m.

The seeding will cover about 230,000 of the 1.6 million acres that burned this past summer.

The BLM is spending about $50 per acre on the seeding contracts. That includes seed, seed storage, transportation of seed, testing of seed, contract preparation and administration and monitoring.

Jack Spencer, BLM emergency fire rehabilitation manager for the Elko district, said the district has purchased 1.7 million pounds of seed.

About 460,000 pounds of the seed have been applied so far through drilling and aerial seeding, he said.

"Our target date for completion is March 1," Spencer said. "Weather is the biggest factor in meeting that date."

High winds hinder the aerial seeding efforts because the helicopter cannot distribute seeds if wind speeds exceed 12 miles per hour and the fixed-wing aircraft may not distribute seeds in winds exceeding 18 mph, Spencer said.

Ideal conditions exist when there is 2 to 4 inches of snow on the ground, he said.

"The seeds are dropped on top of the snow, and, hopefully, another blanket of snow will soon follow," he said. "Then, as the snow melts, the ground softens and allows the seed to penetrate the ground. This process is not as proficient as drill seeding, but is an easier way to get the seed in the ground on steep slopes and higher elevations. We are hoping for snow."

The Nevada National Guard will be helping the Elko BLM field office deliver the seeds during the next two weeks. Spencer said the Elko field office is also receiving help from local ranchers, Elko and Eureka County Commissioners and volunteers from the Nevada Easter Seal Society.

"I'm very pleased with the progress so far," Spencer said. "Our people have been working seven days a week. We are out before daylight and work 10-to-12 hour days."