The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is seeking public comment on the draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (draft plan) developed for Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in northern Nevada. The draft plan, released today, outlines a proposed 15-year management plan that proposes guidance for improving habitats for the long-term conservation of fish, wildlife and plants, as well as wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities and environmental education and interpretation. Comments should be submitted no later than November 8, 2011.
The draft plan addresses a number of key issues, identified in public comments received during the planning process, for improving habitats for native fish, wildlife and plants on Sheldon Refuge. A significant issue is the proposal to remove all feral horses and burros from the refuge. Horses and burros are not native to Sheldon and cause considerable damage to relatively intact native refuge habitats. The costs for feral horse and burro management are also considerable, resulting in fewer funds and staff available to support the conservation mission of the Service and the purposes of the refuge.
“One of the most important issues for wildlife management at Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge is the need to address the degraded habitat conditions caused by feral horse and burro populations,” said John Kasbohm, Project Leader, Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex. “Managing these populations has been required to limit damage to wildlife habitat, consistent with the purpose of the refuge, and the draft plan proposes to fully restore native habitats and species and lower long-term operations costs by removing them.”
The 575,000-acre refuge, located in the high desert of northern Nevada, with a small portion in southern Oregon, was established to conserve pronghorn antelope and other native species of the sagebrush sagebrush
The western United States’ sagebrush country encompasses over 175 million acres of public and private lands. The sagebrush landscape provides many benefits to our rural economies and communities, and it serves as crucial habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including the iconic greater sage-grouse and over 350 other species.
Learn more about sagebrush steppe ecosystem such as sage grouse, prairie falcons, pygmy rabbits, pika and songbirds. In Sheldon's high-elevation, semi-arid environments, conflicts among non-native horses and burros and native species are most severe during late summer and mid-winter. Of particular concern are impacts to Sheldon's limited water resources and adjacent meadows, wetlands and riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian zones. Monitoring information from 2002 concluded that 44 percent of the streams and 80 percent of the springs on the refuge were severely degraded by feral horses and burros. Preliminary results from ongoing research conducted on the refuge indicate substantial impacts to both riparian and upland habitats from feral horses.
In addition to removal of feral horses and burros, the following issues are addressed in the draft plan:
• Restoring springs and other key habitats
• Managing the use of wildland and prescribed fires
• Reducing and removing encroaching western juniper
• Providing wildlife-dependent public uses
• Delineating public vehicle access to the refuge
• Adding a visitor contact station and improving campgrounds
• Recommending changes in configuration and distribution of proposed wilderness and wilderness study areas
Comments should be submitted no later than November 8, 2011. A summary of the comments received will be included in the final plan, scheduled for completion in early 2012. A copy of the draft plan is available on the refuge’s Website at http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/main/docs/NV/docssheldon.htm, and printed copies are available at public libraries in: Lakeview, OR; Alturas, CA; Winnemucca, NV; and Reno, NV. Comments and requests for a CD-ROM copy of the draft plan can be submitted by one of the following methods:
• Website: http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/main/docs/NV/docssheldon.htm;
• Fax: Attn: John Kasbohm, 541-947-4414; or
• U.S. Mail: John Kasbohm, Project Leader, Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex, PO Box 111, Lakeview, OR 97630.
Service Seeks Public Comment on Future Management of Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge
