Fuels Management

Fact Sheet—West Desert District

The BLM in Utah is divided into five fire zones, with the West Desert Fire, Fuels and Aviation Program being the largest and most complex organization in the state. The program is challenged not only by 7.7 million acres of public land to protect, but also by the growing wildland urban interface. This year the fuels program is undertaking a goal of 27,000 acres treated in Fiscal Year 2019.

Fuels Management Quick Facts

• The Hazardous Fuels Reduction (HFR) programs within the Department of the Interior (DOI) works to reduce hazardous fuels and risks to communities and improve land health by creating fire-resilient landscapes and restoring fire-adapted ecosystems.
• All HFR treatment projects comply with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and all other regulatory requirements.
• All HFR projects are monitored to determine if treatment objectives were met.
• The program’s goal is to create resilient landscapes and reduce fire’s impact on sagebrush habitat for great sage-grouse and other sagebrush dependent wildlife.

West Desert District Fuels Management Projects for Fiscal Year 2019

Fillmore Field Office

Cherry Creek Bullhog

Focus: Protect, enhance and expand critical winter habitat for greater sage-grouse.

Acreage: 1,033

Timeframe: October 2018 – March 2019

Cow Hollow Bullhog

Focus: Protect, enhance and expand critical winter habitat for greater sage-grouse.

Acreage: 3,296

Timeframe: October 2018 – March 2019

Salt Lake Field Office

Erickson Pass

Focus: Restoration of sagebrush habitat by reducing competition from trees using a combination of mechanical shredding (bullhogs) and hand crews with chainsaws (lop and scatter).

Acreage: 3,078

Timeframe: October 2018 – March 2019

Crawford Green Strip Maintenance

Focus: Protect sagebrush habitat and reduce fire risk by mowing vegetation along roadsides.

Acreage: 300

Timeframe: October 2018 – December 2018

Woodruff Longhill Green Strip Maintenance

Focus: Protect sagebrush habitat and reduce fire risk by mowing vegetation along roadsides.

Acreage: 80 acres

Timeframe: October 2018 – December 2018

Lofgreen Lop and Scatter

Focus: Expand sagebrush habitat by removing low density juniper using hand crews with chainsaws (lop and scatter).

Acreage: 500

Timeframe: October 2018 – December 2018

For additional information, please contact Erik Valdez at (801) 977-4300.