WINNEMUCCA - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Winnemucca District, Black Rock Field Office has completed a draft wilderness management plan (WMP) and preliminary environmental assessment (EA)  for the 10 wilderness areas associated within the Black Rock Desert High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area (NCA).  The BLM would appreciate receiving substantive comments on the WMP and EA by June 10, 2011.

The WMP will provide specific guidance for management of the 10 wilderness areas associated with the NCA.  The wilderness areas are: South and North Jackson Mountains, Black Rock Desert, North Black Rock Range, Pahute Peak, Calico Mountains, High Rock Lake, East Fork High Rock Canyon, High Rock Canyon and Little High Rock Canyon.

A Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the NCA was signed in July of 2004.  The RMP provides broad overall management guidance for the NCA and wilderness areas.  The WMP will guide decisions for the management practices and actions which will be used to maintain the area’s wilderness resources.

Open houses will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., on May 24, at the Hyatt Place Hotel in Reno, on May 25, at the Gerlach Community Center in Gerlach, on May 26, at the Lovelock Community Center in Lovelock, and on May 27, at the Winnemucca Convention Center in Winnemucca, Nev.  The open house meetings are scheduled by the BLM  to share information about the WMP, answer questions, and provide people an opportunity to provide input.

The document may be reviewed online at http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/wfo/blm_information/nepa0.html.  Printed copies are available upon request from the BLM Winnemucca District Office.  Public comments may be submitted to: Kristine Struck, Attn: WMP, BLM Black Rock Field Office, 5100 East Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca NV 89445-2921 or via e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  E-mail messages should include “Black Rock Field Office, WMP (Struck)” in the subject line.

Public comments submitted for this project, including names and addresses of commentors will be available for public review at the Winnemucca District Office during regular business hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.

For further information please contact Kristine Struck, Project Lead, at 775- 623-1532