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BLM official updates Churchill County on wild-horse gathers, sage‑grouse plan, geothermal and road projects
Summary
Acting Stillwater Field Manager Catherine Dyer briefed the Churchill County Board of Commissioners on Bureau of Land Management activities including wild-horse gathers prioritizing the Lahontan Herd Management Area, progress on a greater sage‑grouse RMP amendment and EIS, geothermal project NEPA work, and road and pipeline realignments.
Catherine Dyer, acting Stillwater Field Manager for the Bureau of Land Management’s Carson City District, updated the Churchill County Board of Commissioners on federal land-management activities affecting the county.
Dyer told the board the BLM awarded a baseline contract Nov. 18 and is coordinating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Navy, and meeting regularly with affected permittees on issues arising from the National Defense Authorization Act project work. “I probably won’t know the answer to some of your questions, but I’ll be happy to get you any answers,” Dyer said at the start of her presentation.
Why it matters: the BLM work touches grazing, wildlife management and infrastructure projects on public lands inside and adjacent to Churchill County and has direct effects on local permittees, roads and potential development areas.
Most important items Dyer outlined: - Wild horses and burros: The BLM has planned census flights for fiscal 2025 across multiple herd management areas and said it is prioritizing the Lahontan Herd Management Area, which lies in Churchill County, for an upcoming gather. The North Complex in Washoe County was identified as a second priority and will require a separate NEPA process for any gather.
- Greater sage‑grouse: The BLM has prepared a proposed Resource Management Plan amendment and a final environmental impact statement; the materials were made available on the BLM’s national NEPA register on Nov. 8 and the public-comment period closed Jan. 7. Dyer said the agency has received concerns from several Nevada counties, including Churchill County.
- Geothermal and exploration projects: The agency is coordinating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Navy and Ormat on additional data for projects at Dixie Meadows and on the Diamond Flat Exploration NEPA, and is working with a contractor on timelines.
- Infrastructure and realignments: The BLM continues participation in meetings and field trips for the Great Basin pipeline realignment and the State Route 361 road realignment. The Pilot Peak road reroute environmental assessment is finalized and a decision document is expected. The Greenlink North draft EIS public-comment period closed Dec. 11 and the district is reviewing draft cultural-resource inventory reports.
Dyer’s presentation included a slide list of planned herd-census flights (Pilot, Table, Marietta, Pine Nut, Garfield Flat, Was Sick, Montgomery Pass, Lahontan, North Complex, Flanagan and Desatoya) and noted the Lahontan HMA priority. She invited questions at the end of the presentation; no formal action was taken by the board on these items during the meeting.
Background and next steps: several items Dyer discussed will proceed through further NEPA reviews, coordination with other federal agencies and local engagement; the BLM and Bureau of Reclamation continue to work through withdrawal‑revocation processes raised by the county.
Less-critical details: Dyer said the BLM continues to coordinate cultural surveys and contractor schedules for larger EIS work and is tracking county concerns for the sage‑grouse amendment.
