BLM to treat dense sagebrush

Starting next week, the Bureau of Land Management plans to start clearing 12,230 acres of sagebrush from federal lands in the Farmington Field Office administrative area. Low-flying planes will drop a pellet of herbicide called teburthiuron on areas plentiful with sagebrush. Teburthiuron is a soil-activated herbicide that stops photosynthesis. The BLM has selected areas where sagebrush densities have surpassed historic, naturally occurring levels, according to a BLM news release. The areas include east of Navajo Reservoir south to Counselor. "Reducing the density of sagebrush will result in an increase of native grasses, forbs and other herbaceous vegetation," Jeff Tafoya, a range land management specialist for the BLM, said in a prepared statement. "Our goal is to improve species diversity, which will benefit wildlife, range lands and the watershed." Tafoya said the herbicide will have no affect on grasses and forbs and the pellets won't drift outside the treatment areas. The pellets won't be dropped near waterways, he said. The BLM treats dense sagebrush areas to reduce the risk of fire damage...more