Aerial seeding begins in the North Fork

During the week of Dec. 10, a Bureau of Land Management contract crew will use an airplane to spread native seed in two areas north of Hotchkiss and Paonia.

"The warm weather conditions have given us the opportunity to continue field work well into December," said Kelly Homstad, BLM fire use specialist.

  "The aerial seeding project will allow us to increase healthy, native forage for big game in the area."

A $60,000 grant from the Habitat Partnership Program enabled the BLM to purchase the native seed mix that was specifically selected to ensure its sustainability and its ability to compete with non-native species in the area.

The public will see the plane dropping seed about five miles north of Hotchkiss on about 500 acres in the Oak Mesa area and about three miles north of Paonia near the Farmers Mine Road.

This project is a continuation of field work that was started in 2011.  Environmental Assessments were completed for the projects and can be reviewed at www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ufo.html.

For more information, contact Homstad at 970-240-5300 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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