Federal BLM district chief settling into position in Ely

Ely — A new executive is settling in as chief of a sprawling rural Nevada federal land management district covering some 18,000 square miles. That’s about twice the size of the state of New Jersey.

Bureau of Land Management Ely District Manager Michael Herder started in his new position Dec. 28.

Bureau spokesman Chris Hanefeld said Friday the district has about 125 full-time employees and manages about 11.5 million acres of public lands in Lincoln and White Pine counties and a portion of Nye County.

The district, based in Ely, includes the Caliente, Egan and Schell field offices.

BLM Nevada State Director Amy Lueders says Herder has positive working relationships and experience with wildlife and sagebrush restoration.

Herder was associate district manager in Ely for eight years.