BLM updates Lyon County on planned horse gather, fuels work and multiple solar project proposals

The Bureau of Land ManagementCarson City District gave an update to the Lyon County Board of County Commissioners on April 17 that covered off-highway vehicle events, wild-horse population counts and a gather plan now out for public comment, hazardous-fuels treatments completed and planned in Lyon County, and the status of several large solar-project applications affecting county land.

BLM District Manager Kim Dow told the board the office expects five organized off-highway vehicle races this season and summarized BLM work on wild-horse management areas (HMAs). She said the agency released a gather plan for the Hutton HMA on April 10 and opened a 30-day public comment period to allow the gather schedule to proceed if approved.

Why it matters: BLM said the HMA gathers relate to nearby military training-area changes and land transfers that will move horses and reduce allotment acres for local ranchers, creating a need to gather animals before fence and range changes occur.

BLM reported the following population estimates and appropriate management levels (AML) from recent aerial surveys: Horse Mountain HMA, 0 horses (AML 0); Wasatch/Wasak (transcript spelling) HMA, estimated 197 horses (AML 165); Paynet Mountains HMA, estimated 290 horses (AML 179); Hutton HMA, estimated 353 horses (AML…