For Release: Oct. 26, 2005
Contact: Larry Ames or Jim Dawson (707) 468-4000
CA-N-06-7

BLM PLANS PRESCRIBED FIRE PROJECTS AT SOUTH COW MOUNTAIN

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) plan conduct prescribed burning projects in the South Cow Mountain Off-Highway Vehicle Area, eight miles east of Ukiah, this fall.

Crews plan to burn on favorable days within the first two weeks of November or the first two weeks of December. Each project is expected to take one to three days to complete. For public safety, the South Cow Mountain OHV Area will be closed during the burns, and possibly one to two days afterward. Closure information will be available from the BLM Ukiah Field Office, (707) 468-4000.

"These projects will accomplish two objectives," said Jim Dawson, BLM natural resource specialist. "One goal is to complete six research burns, totaling approximately 30 acres in connection with a research project being conducted by the University of California, Berkeley to study knobcone pine forest regeneration. The second is to complete prescribed burns of approximately 400 to 600 acres of public land per burn to reduce fuel hazards and improve wildlife habitat."

The burns will be ignited only on days when weather conditions allow for safe and effective burning and smoke management.

-BLM-

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Ukiah Field Office 2550 North State St. Ukiah, CA 95482