| Contacts: | David Boyd, (970) 319-4130, Public Information Officer | |||
| Anna Callahan, (970) 456-3623, Public Information Officer |
Oak Ridge prescribed burn begins today near Meeker
RIFLE, Colo. – Fire officials with the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit are planning to ignite the 766-acre Oak Ridge Prescribed Fire today about 10 miles southeast of Meeker in the Oak Ridge State Wildlife Area.
Smoke will be visible from Meeker and nearby communities during the burn. The fire will only be ignited if weather conditions and moisture levels in the vegetation fall within the specific conditions for a safe and effective fire.
Burning the oak brush and other mountain shrub species in this area will improve elk and deer habitat by stimulating younger and more nutritious plant growth. The resulting mix of burned and unburned areas and mixed ages and sizes of the shrubs is also favored by most bird and mammal species that live in these areas. By improving wildlife habitat on public lands, managers hope to reduce conflicts with wildlife on private lands.
Fire officials expect to burn today and tomorrow, but the project could take up to five days. It is a cooperative effort among the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Mule Deer Foundation, Yampa/White River Habitat Partnership Program, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Colorado Division of Wildlife. The burn will take place in the Seely Unit, which is in the western side of the State Wildlife Area.
Burn plans have been prepared and approved and the required smoke permits have been obtained from the Colorado State Air Pollution Division. All prescribed fire plans contain specific criteria regarding weather conditions and air quality that must be met to help ensure adequate smoke dispersal and minimize potential smoke impacts to local communities.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
2300 River Frontage Road Silt, CO 81652