The fire was contained August 2 after burning 653,000 acres (483,000 acres in Idaho and 170,000 acres in Nevada). It was the largest wildfire in Idaho since the1910 fires. The resulting Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ES&R) project is massive. It involves the assistance of many partners and contractors. This year, about 1.2 million pounds of seed will be planted.

Scope of the Rehabilitation Effort

The inter-disciplinary team which developed the Murphy Complex ES&R plan involved the BLM Jarbidge Field Office and agencies such as Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Department of Lands, Idaho State Department of Agriculture, and Nevada Division of Wildlife. The team completed an assessment on about 425,000 acres, taking into consideration the very highest ES&R needs over a huge surface area. Several public meetings were held. Livestock grazing permittee requests were also carefully considered. Land management agencies conducted post-fire assessments of the burned area and concluded that 366,220 acres need stabilization and rehabilitation. 

Treatments

Treatments include drill and aerial seeding as well as seedling planting. Seed mixes consist of native and non-native species such as Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, sandberg bluegrass, sherman big bluegrass, western yarrow, small burnet, alfalfa, sanfoin and lewis flax.

In addition to seeding, noxious weeds will be treated, soil stabilization projects will be implemented, 34 miles of temporary fence will be built and 455 miles of fence will be repaired. Treatment began in October 2007 and will be completed by spring 2008, dependent upon weather. Within the Twin Falls District boundaries, there are 99 drills actively seeding about 3,000 acres a day. Over 1.2 million pounds of seed has been purchased and $12.2 million spent in fiscal year 2007.