Comprehensive Overview of the Blue Wing Complex Gather Environmental Assessment

The Blue Wing Complex, located 50 miles southwest of Winnemucca, Nevada, spans approximately 2,283,300 acres. This area includes five Herd Management Areas (HMAs) and four Herd Areas (HAs), each with unique ecological and management challenges. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has proposed a series of actions to manage the wild horse and burro populations effectively.

Current Population and Management Levels

The BLM has set the Appropriate Management Levels (AMLs) for the Complex at 333 to 553 wild horses and 55 to 90 wild burros. A December 2014 aerial census, combined with USGS data analysis and estimates of the 2015 and 2016 foal crops, indicates a population of approximately 2,081 wild horses and 768 wild burros, totaling about 2,850 animals.

Grazing Allotments and Proposed Actions

The BLM has authorized six grazing allotments within the Complex, with a total permitted use of 45,831 Animal Unit Months (AUMs) for cattle and sheep. In 2016, the estimated use was 25,482 AUMs. The BLM's Proposed Action includes various management methods, such as:

• Gathering wild horses and burros through multiple gathers.
• Removing and transporting wild horses and burros.
• Treating and releasing mares with fertility control (PZP/GonaCon).
• Spaying and/or gelding wild horses and burros.

The BLM aims to implement these actions immediately upon approval, targeting the low AMLs of 333 wild horses and 55 wild burros within approximately 20 years.

Implementation Details and Non-Breeding Component

The Proposed Action lacks specific details on the timing and number of roundups, as these depend on management priorities and current conditions. The plan is designed to maintain a non-breeding component of 50 mares, 50 stallions, 9 jennies, and 9 jacks, equating to about 30% of the low AMLs.

Once the low AMLs are achieved and subsequent monitoring is completed, the BLM will assess the non-breeding component percentage to determine if further removals and population control treatments are necessary to maintain the AML and sustain reduced population growth rates.