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May 7, 2004
BLM beautifies the south side
By MARK WAITE
Nicole Sikula, BLM botanist and restoration crew leader, said the BLM acquired the trees that were left over from a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation project. They intend to plant 150 mesquite trees eventually, possibly returning in the fall. The first 54 trees were planted just off Gamebird Road, west of Pahrump Valley Boulevard in an attempt to create a continuous patch of trees. The BLM crew also cleaned up illegal dumpsites, hauling off 100 cubic yards of trash. The mesquite patch was also damaged by woodcutting and off-road vehicle use, she said. "We hired a Nevada conservation crew with our Clark County funds," Sikula said. "We try to recreate the natural habitat and not bring in anything that's not supposed to be there." The mistletoe growing on the mesquite trees is a source of food for the phainopepla bird, she said, which isn't on the endangered species list but is considered a sensitive species. The male phainopepla is black with a crest and likes to sit on top of the mesquite trees. They live, nest and breed in the mesquites. "The woodlands became more fragmented and we want to make it more whole. The habitat becomes more degraded the more fragmented it becomes." Sikula explained why the BLM was coming out to Pahrump for a project, using Clark County funds. "We're from Clark County. Even though the funds should be in Clark County, we make an argument this species doesn't know where county lines are. We need to preserve woodlands in Southern Nevada." Sikula said the BLM is looking for three or four responsible people to water the mesquites. The trees will need watering twice per month from May through September, then monthly from October through April. She estimated the work would take about an hour. Each tree uses about a gallon of water. "They need to be watered for two years while they're saplings," Sikula told the Southern Nye County Conservation District Board Wednesday. "It's three hours for us to come out here and water the trees. So if we could get local volunteers to water the trees that would be wonderful." After two years the trees should reach the water table, she said. The BLM installed fences around the saplings to keep rodents from trying to drink the water and installed deep pipe irrigation so the water sinks down below the roots. Sikula can be reached by calling 702-515-5028. |
