Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Will Support Partnership with Nevada Department of Wildlife to reduce wildfire risk
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RENO, Nev. — With funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Bureau of Land Management has signed a $918,000 cooperative agreement with the State of Nevada to restore wildlife habitat and reduce wildfire risk. The cooperative agreement and initial funding are the first step in a five-year project that can go up to $10 million.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes $1.5 billion for the Department of the Interior over the next five years to invest in preparedness, fuels management, post-fire restoration, and fire science of which the Department will allocate over $5.9 million to support projects in Nevada in fiscal year 2022. It also directs major reforms for federal wildland firefighters, including temporary pay increases and a new occupational series classification more specific to firefighters.
“This cooperative agreement will allow the Nevada Division of Wildlife to increase its efforts on BLM-managed lands to assist with hazardous fuels treatments, wildlife habitat restoration, and emergency stabilization and rehabilitation,” said BLM Nevada State Director Jon Raby.
“We are extremely grateful to partner with the BLM on this effort," said Nevada Division of Wildlife Director Tony Wasley. “The wildfire and invasive grass problems are bigger than any single agency. Over the past decade alone, wildfires in Nevada have destroyed millions of acres of crucial wildlife habitat. This is exactly the type of partnership that will help us restore and protect wildlife habitat in Nevada.”
With this funding, the Nevada Division of Wildlife will conduct restoration and rehabilitation projects that may include fuels reduction, fuel breaks, brown strips, green strips, post-fire rehabilitation, aerial and ground herbicide application, aerial and ground seed application, seedling planting, tree removal, brush mowing/beating, spring/riparian/meadow enhancements, water developments, or other similar restoration activities and monitoring. The Division of Wildlife’s work on BLM-managed Federal land will occur under Good Neighbor Authority, which allows the BLM to authorize state and local agencies to plan and execute cross-jurisdictional restoration efforts. Funding for the cooperative agreement includes a $814,000 investment from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, with the remaining balance coming from post-fire emergency stabilization and rehabilitation funding available to BLM.
The BLM fuels management program is focused on reducing wildfire risk, improving wildfire resiliency, and promoting fire-adapted communities.
For more information about the BLM’s efforts under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, visit. www.blm.gov/infrastructure.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.