U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT NEWS RELEASE
| Contacts: | Dan Huisjen, Fire Ecologist, 970-240-5339 | |||
| Lee Ann Loupe, Public and Legislative Affairs Staff Officer, 970-874-6717 | ||||
| Erin Curtis, Public Affairs Specialist, 970-244-3097 |
Prescribed Burn Planned Near Powerhorn
Montrose, Colo.--Officials with the Montrose Interagency Fire Management Unit say a prescribed burn near the town of Powderhorn could begin as early as this week.
Burning will begin this week if weather and fuel moisture conditions are conducive to achieving burn objectives and maintaining control of the burns. Fire managers will also consider the existence of smoke in the area and will consider air quality issues before scheduling any prescribed burns.
The Powderhorn Burn will continue through the fall and until the snow flights. The objectives of the burn are to reduce natural fuels and improve forage for wildlife and livestock. The area that will be targeted is three miles south of the town of Powderhorn, near 10 Miles Springs Road.
Weather conditions will be closely monitored prior to and during the burns, and the burns will only be initiated if conditions are within approved parameters for safe and effective fires. Each controlled burn conducted by the agencies has gone through an environmental analysis and has a detailed burn plan developed in advance. Appropriate smoke permits have been obtained for each burn, as well.
http://gacc.nifc.gov/rmcc/dispatch_centers/r2mtc/
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.
2465 S. Townsend Ave. Montrose, CO 81401