CIBOLA COUNTY – The US Bureau of Land Management has begun the process of vegetation management project targeting native bush and juniper tree overgrowth in several New Mexico counties, including Cibola. The treatment, active now through October 16, seeks to cover roughly 6,000 acres spanning Cibola, Sandoval, Catron, and Socorro counties.
BLM Project Manager Jamie Garcia said citizens are advised to anticipate low-flying aircrafts in the vicinity as the BLM utilizes these to distribute Tebuthiuron pellets. This particular soil-applied herbicide prevents photosynthesis in native brush and juniper trees, hoping to prevent more growth. Designed to be cost-effective and environmentally considerate, the Tebuthiuron pellets promise a low-impact alternative to traditional manual vegetation thinning methods.
According to the BLM, the management strategy aims to bolster the region's ecosystem health, fire resilience, and native plant diversity. By addressing the escalated bush and tree densities, the treatments reduce the threat of large-scale wildfires. Garcia said density control also helps fire managers create more varied tactics in the event of a fire breakout.
Importantly, the herbicide application ensures minimal interference with local flora, the BLM stated in a press release. Desirable grasses and shrubbery are expected to remain largely unaffected, and the design of the pellets will prevent potential drift from treatment zones. The pellets, when subject to precipitation, permeate the soil to an estimated depth of two feet. From there, target plants absorb the herbicide, which leads to the eventual thinning of the sagebrush and juniper trees. To protect water sources and prevent soil erosion, the treatment refrains from releasing pellets near waterways or on steep terrains.
According to a press release from the BLM, the use of Tebuthiuron dates back to the 1980s, where it was used for controlling sagebrush and juniper trees. Both the New Mexico State University and the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology have various written accounts of its successful use, but, according to the press release, monitoring will continue.
While the overarching vision of this BLM project centers on managing sagebrush and juniper tree densities, the project does not seek to get rid of all the unfavorable brush. Instead, the plan aims to support the enrichment of native plant species so they can better diversify in the Cibola National Forest.