BLM seeking public input on water trapping

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wells and Egan Field Offices have started hauling water to wild horses in the Triple B Complex of herd management areas because of severe drought conditions. The BLM is seeking public input in the development of an environmental assessment (EA) to analyze a proposed non-helicopter gather and removal of excess wild horses in the Complex by water or bait trapping to relieve pressure on springs or until a helicopter gather can take place.

The Triple B Complex includes the western portion of the Antelope Valley and Maverick-Medicine herd management areas (HMA) and Cherry Springs Wild Horse Territory. Water availability concerns at Cherry and Sabala Springs, as well as other springs within the Complex, were identified as part of the May 2011 Final Environmental Assessment on the gathering of excess wild horses within the Complex. The BLM did not achieve the appropriate management level (AML) during the 2011 gather and, based on current monitoring information, the BLM has determined that water resource

concerns still exist.

The BLM hauled more than 60,000 gallons of water in 2011 to several springs within the Triple B and removed 1,269 excess wild horses. The AML for the Complex is 472 - 889 and there are an estimated 1,085 wild horses in the Complex at this time.

The public is encouraged to provide suggestions and share their concerns for this proposal. Information, data, analysis or issues or concerns about this proposed gather and removal of wild horses should be submitted in writing, prior to 5 p.m. (PST) on June 28, 2012 to the BLM Wells Field Office, Attention: Wells Field Office Manager, 3900 E. Idaho St., Elko, NV 89801, faxed to (775) 753-0255, or emailed to: BLM_NV_ELDO_TripleBMaverickMedicine@blm.gov.

Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be publicly available at any time. While you can ask that your personal identifying information be withheld from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.