Sheep Grazing Helps Reduce Hazardous Fuels Near Reno’s Arrowcreek Community

RENO, Nev. – As part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service’s proactive fire mitigation program, hundreds of sheep will be grazing in the Arrowhawk Fuels Reduction Project area just west of the Arrowcreek Community in Reno, Nevada, starting April 28.  

 Targeted grazing with sheep helps control invasive weeds by reaching areas that are difficult for people or machinery to access.  Sheep are incredibly thorough, and this helps to reduce weed spread and help native plants thrive, restoring balance to the landscape. 

 Herders from the Borda Land and Sheep Company out of Gardnerville, Nevada, will be monitoring approximately 900 sheep during the operation within the Thomas Creek and Whites Creek watersheds north of Timberline Road.

 “Cheatgrass is an aggressive, non-native species outcompeting native vegetation” said Forest Service Fuels Specialist Jed Rudelbach.  “Sheep have been used to reduce fuels in this area since 2013, and around 1,500 acres are treated annually.” 

 Cheatgrass and other weeds also create an exceptional fuel bed for wildfire spread and can be a threat to communities. 

 “Targeted grazing can reduce the risk of wildfire by removing undesirable vegetation and creating fuel breaks to slow the spread of these fires, making it easier and safer for firefighters to fight them,” Rudelbach said.

 Project Area Leash Forest Order 

 The Arrowhawk Fuels Reduction Project area is popular with hikers and dog walkers, and incidents involving sheep and off-leash dogs have been on the rise.  Washoe County animal ordinances and Forest Order 04-17-11-06 require dogs to be leashed in this area; the success of the sheep grazing program is dependent upon keeping both the sheep and dogs safe.