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BLM Announces Brush Treatments Throughout Southwestern New Mexico

  Las Cruces ‒ Beginning around November 1, 2014, and continuing for approximately three weeks, the Sierra and Otero Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD), in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Las Cruces District Office, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts will treat approximately 39,000 acres of creosote and tarbush.  Treatments will occur on BLM public lands, State trust lands and private lands throughout Sierra, Luna, Hidalgo, and Otero Counties. 

The objective of such treatments is to reduce the density of creosote and tarbush on range sites where the densities have surpassed historic, naturally occurring levels.  The reduction of these brush species will benefit wildlife, rangeland, and watershed health by reducing the density of creosote and tarbush, and result in an increase of native grasses, forbs, and other herbaceous vegetation.

A low-flying airplane will drop tebuthiuron pellets, a soil-activated herbicide that inhibits photosynthesis, on the target species.  At the rate of application planned, the chemical will have minimal impact on desirable grasses and forbs.  Because the chemical is applied in pellet form, it will not drift from treated areas.  When the pellets dissolve they are absorbed into the ground and into the target plants’ roots, eventually reducing the targeted vegetation’s density.  The pellets will not be dropped near waterways.

Tebuthiuron has been used to control creosote and tarbush since the early 1980’s and the benefits of its application are well documented.  The BLM’s goal is to decrease competitive brush densities, not eradication.  

For further information, or if you are a rancher with private land in the area who would like to have your pastures treated, please contact Merry Jo Fahl, with the Sierra SWCD at 575-894-2212, Vickie Milne with the Otero SWCD at 575-437-3100, or BLM Rangeland Improvement Specialist, Lane Hauser at 575-525-4464.