Date: 4/20/11
Contact: Joe Doucette
Phone: (775) 777-2305

BARRICK DONATES TO HABITAT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Lou Schack, Director of Communications and Community Affairs for Barrick and Derek Huebner, Bald Mountain Mine Environmental Superintendent, give Caleb McAdoo, NDOW Area 10 Game Biiologist a $100,000 donation. The money will go towards a habitat improvement project in the south Ruby Mountains.

With a $100,000 donation from Barrick Goldstrike's Bald Mountain Mine, the pieces are now in place for a major habitat restoration project at the south end of the Ruby Mountains. With Barrick on board, the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Ely District Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Goicoechea Ranches are now set to treat approximately 3,500 acres of pinion-juniper.

The project, which will encompass the old Narcise, Overland and Cracker Johnson chainings, will now go through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for clearance and have a target start date of early 2012.

"Without this generous donation from Barrick, this project would not be able to accomplish the goals that we have set," said Caleb McAdoo, NDOW game biologist.

According to McAdoo, the 3,500 acre project will thin and remove pinion and juniper trees that have encroached into sagebrush habitat that is crucial to mule deer and sage grouse. It will revitalize the 40 to 50 year old chainings as well as expand into new territory.

McAdoo explains that, "Pinion-juniper forests rob the sagebrush and understory of sunlight and moisture creating an environment that is less than ideal for sage grouse and mule deer."

By thinning and removing the trees in key areas, sagebrush and other browse species, as well as forbs and grasses will create nesting and brood rearing habitat for sage grouse and browse for mule deer. The treatments will include hand thinning, mechanical mastication, chaining and prescribed fire.

Goicoechea Ranches will be taking advantage of a grant from Natural Resources Conservation Service to help treat approximately 400 acres of private land that lie adjacent to the mix of BLM and USFS project boundaries.

Bald Mountain Mine Environmental Superintendent Derek Huebner said "Barrick understands the importance of a project like this. This is part of our commitment to the people of northern Nevada, its habitat and wildlife."
"It is because of cooperators like Goicoechea Ranches and Bald Mountain Mine that make this project possible," adds McAdoo.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW's wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen's license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.