Status
Y2U has submitted scoping comments to the Pocatello Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in response to the Fish Haven South Fuels Reduction Project (FHS). The project's intent is to protect communities who have built in wildfire prone areas by thinning "fuels", which includes native vegetation. Our fear is that the BLM oversells the ability of land managers to make conditions safe for both landowners and firefighters, resulting in further complacency by private landowners in building in wildfire prone areas to begin with, and to continue without employing firewise techniques in the development and maintenance of their properties. We strongly support government actions which facilitate cultural change toward private landowners taking the primary responsibility for mitigating the safety and property risks from
fire. Resources from Utah State University Department of Forestry here and here.
Expected Outcome
Y2U has requested that the BLM complete an Environmental Analysis (EA) to address issues surrounding livestock grazing and soil conditions within the watersheds, disclose ongoing soil and water impacts from roads in the analysis area, and to provide a an analysis of the cumulative ecological effects of the fire management policies in a wider geographical context. Fish Haven Creek is spawning ground for Bonneville cutthrout trout, so the EA must also address the use of chemicals to combat the spread of invasive weeds. Also, what will be the cost to taxpayers?
We will continue to be in touch with the BLM to voice any objections to the FHS and provide feedback.
