The UFO manages 240 grazing allotments with 165 grazing permittees. We have been working on Land Health Assessments (LHA) each year since 1999 to determine whether or not a given area is meeting our Land Health Standards.

LHA area accomplishments for FY06 are expected as follows:

• Update the US Fish & Wildlife Service on status of the Gunnison Sage Grouse and its habitat in the UFO.
• Complete the Norwood LHA, and renew 29 grazing permits.
• Complete the Roubideau LHA and offer renewal of 16 grazing permits.
• Begin the North Fork LHA in mid-April by conducting our field work/data collection. This area has 35 grazing permits associated with it. The area inventoried covers from Cedaredge to Somerset on the south side of Grand Mesa, to Crawford on the south and the Gunnison National Forest on the east.

BLM always strives to eliminate noxious weeds and non-native invasive plants where ever possible. For instance:

• We have two test plots starting this spring as trials to control cheat grass.
• Tamarisk control is underway in the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, with about half of the sites treated. Follow-up treatments will take place later in the summer of 2006.
• We always contract our herbicide efforts as well as working closely with the Delta, Ouray, San Miguel, and Montrose County Weed boards.
• We are working with Montrose County to control Purple Loosestrife in a 50 acre area east of Nucla just above the San Miguel River drainage.
• We are partners with the USFS, The Nature Conservancy, and Montrose County working on a grant the county received to help get rid of noxious weeds on public and private lands in and around the old town site of Uravan. The grant lasts for five years and contains a cost share provision for private landowners. Primary species being targeted are Purple Loosestrife, Spotted Knapweed, Tamarisk, and Hoary Cress. The area around the Horsefly Creek drainage is having a Cooperative Weed Management Plan prepared. Noxious weed control work, as directed by this plan, would be started sometime in April 2006.