Agencies target overgrown juniper

 

By Jane Braxton Little -- Bee Correspondent
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, August 18, 2005
Story appeared in Metro section, Page B2


ALTURAS - The federal Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and four northeastern California counties are planning to restore 6.5 million acres of sagebrush-steppe impacted by western juniper, which has expanded out of its natural habitat.

Juniper stands, normally confined to rocky hillsides, have increased 15-fold over the past century, spreading into rangeland and reducing its productivity for livestock grazing, said Rob Jeffers, project manager for the Modoc National Forest.

Left unmanaged, these encroaching juniper stands will crowd out plant species that are important to deer, antelope, sage grouse and other wildlife, BLM officials said.

After more than a year of study, the agencies are developing a management plan that uses fire and mechanical treatments to encourage more diverse vegetation.

Public comments are due by Sept. 9 to the Modoc National Forest, 808 W. 12th St., Alturas, CA 96101 or rjeffers@fs.fed.us.

 


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted
material  herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have
expressed  a  prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and  educational purposes only. For more information go to:
 http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml

Source:  http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/environment/story/13433771p-14274916c.html