Praetor Slopes Maintenance Project in Sevier County
Bureau of Land Management, Richfield Field Office
Contact Information: Bob Bate 435-896-1513 rbate@blm.gov, or Jill Ivie 435-896-1573 jivie@blm.gov
Planned Date: October 15, 2018 – December 15, 2018
Planned Location: The Praetor Slopes Maintenance Project is located in Sevier County, on the north end of Grass Valley and east of highway 24, approximately 5 miles northeast of Koosharem, Utah.
Project Map: 2018_PraetorSlope_LopScatter_NAIP_8x11P
Legal Description: Township 26 South, Range 1 West, Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, and 18.
Lat/Long: Unit 1 – N 38 x 33’ x 57.84”; W 111 x 49’ x 42.05″; Unit 2 – N 38 x 33’ x 9.65”; W 111 x 49’ x 43.10”; Unit 3 – N 38 x 32’ x 23.02”; W 111 x 50’ x 0.72”
Project Description: The Richfield Field Office (BLM) will begin a maintenance project with mechanically treating approximately 458 acres in the Praetor Slopes area. The Praetor Slopes Vegetation Improvement Project aims to increase community wildfire protection, improve habitat for wildlife, for aesthetics, and to help restore rangelands. The Praetor Slopes area was treated in the 1960’s utilizing a chain. Twenty years ago, the area was retreated using a Dixie Harrow. The area today consists of regrowth from earlier treatments. The area has small trees with an overall light density. Standing live or dead Pinyon and Juniper trees along with their saplings will be removed, utilizing a contract crew of individuals with chainsaws, using a technique often referred to as “lop & scatter”. Removal of the encroaching pinyon, juniper and saplings will benefit the environment by enabling more productive, desirable grasses, forbs and shrubs to the area.
