I work with the BLM in both Northern California and Northern Nevada and have spent my past few weeks doing monitoring work for weed control tests on Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), cheatgrass (Bromus Tectorum), Ventenata (Ventenata dubia), Japanese Brome (Bromus japonicus), and collecting seeds and specimens for Seeds of Success. In the field, I sometimes work alone, so it’s important to always be carrying the correct safety gear with you, even if it’s a routine trip to check on range compliance or look at a potential collecting site. My field office covers over two million acres and the majority of it does not have cell phone service and often in the field I see very little traffic or people.

-Horse Lake, NV

Because of the remoteness, I always make sure that my truck is outfitted with the equipment that I need in the chance that I get stuck, and that I always bring my handheld radio out in the field with me. I also carry extra water, batteries (both for the radio and the GPS unit), reference books, collecting equipment, sunscreen, bug spray, and most importantly I bring maps. The reason that I bring maps into the field with me is because  when I don’t know where I am going, it’s easy to break out a map and trace a route to where I need to go, especially because most of the roads are unmarked. Maps also provide me with topographical features, roads that are still in use and out of use, and  property ownership. While scouting the Great Basin, I’ve traveled to places like Mosquito Lake, Horse Lake, and Nut Mountain this week. At all of these places, I have found both unique plants and animals. So far this field season has been great and I can’t wait to see what other plants, animals, and places that I get to see.

-Dwarf Purple Monkeyflower located on a fire ant colony.