Forest Service describes 70-acre Cob Creek exploration and a 240,000-acre fuels resiliency project

Josh Nichols, district ranger for the Forest Service, briefed the board on the Cob Creek Exploration Project and a large-scale fuels resiliency effort in the East Humboldt/Ruby Mountains. Nichols said the Cob Creek plan would create roughly 70 acres of new disturbance, build up to 10 drill pads with up to 3 holes per pad, construct about 0.86 miles of new road, and include up to 30 drill holes in a short-term (one-year) exploration campaign targeting gold.

"Really what it encompasses is about 70 acres of new disturbance, 10 drill pads, about, 0.86 miles of new road construction, and up to 30 drill holes," Nichols said. He said exploration work is expected to begin next summer if permitting and planning proceed as currently anticipated.

Nichols also described fuels work coordinated with the Nevada Division of Forestry and Elko County, including contracts for mastication at Ruby Lakes Estates and ongoing activities in the Lamoille Road corridor. He noted that bids for Lamoille Canyon Road repair came in over budget and that the project will likely be delayed until next fall. Nichols put the East Humboldt/Ruby Mountains hazardous-fuels reduction and resiliency project on the board’s radar: it uses mechanical treatments, prescribed fire, targeted grazing and restoration over roughly 240,000 acres, and the agency will publish a notice of proposed action and open a comment period in coming weeks.

Board members asked a few clarifying questions and were told the agency will release formal notices when they are available.