For Immediate Release: August 30, 2007  
Contact: Dan Huisjen, 970-240-5339; Steve Ellis, 970-240-5350;
Mel Lloyd, 970-244-3097; or Lee Ann Loupe, 970-263-5829

Prescribed burns scheduled for region

MONTROSE, Colo. – Crews from the Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Field Office and the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests will be conducting several prescribed burns in west-central Colorado throughout the coming weeks.  Burning could begin as soon as September 4 and will continue as long as weather permits.  The six areas slated for treatment are:

Norwood/Nucla Area
Columbine: 715 acres, project area located 12 miles northeast of Nucla
Coal Canyon: 200 acres, project area located 6 miles north of Nucla

Uncompahgre-North Fork Valleys
Dave Wood: 400 acres, project area located 12 miles southwest of Montrose
Escalante: 350 acres, project area located 18 miles southwest of Delta
Sand Mountain: 900 acres, project area located 3 miles east of Crawford
Paxton: 300 acres, project area located 9 miles west-southwest of Montrose

Fuels being treated in these areas range from mechanically treated pinyon-juniper at the lower elevations to ponderosa pine with a mountain shrub understory at higher elevations.  The main objective of these prescribed fires is to reduce dense vegetation to lessen the chance for catastrophic wildfires.  These burns will also improve wildlife habitat, regenerate new growth and discourage pine beetle infestation in affected areas.

Weather conditions will be closely monitored, and burns will only be initiated if conditions are within established parameters for safe and effective fires.  Each prescribed burn conducted by the agencies has gone through an environmental analysis and has a detailed burn plan developed in advance, along with appropriate smoke permits obtained from state agencies.  For additional information, contact Dan Huisjen at (970) 240-5339 or Steve Ellis at (970) 240-5350.

-BLM-