| Contacts: | David Boyd, Public Affairs Specialist, (970) 876-9008 |
BLM BURNING SLASH PILES SOUTHWEST OF MEEKER
Meeker, CO – Smoke may be visible as early as this week southwest of Meeker as the Bureau of Land Management begins burning slash piles generated from fuels reduction work this summer.
BLM plans to burn 250-300 piles across 15 acres on Wolf Ridge, south of Rio Blanco County Road 24, beginning this week through December. Burning will be conducted on days when weather conditions are favorable for lifting smoke out of the area and moisture in adjacent vegetation is at acceptable levels to prevent spread.
The piles were generated from thinning trees and removing low branches that can carry a fire into the forest canopy. This type of fuel reduction project helps reduce wildfire threat as well as improves firefighter and public safety in the event of a wildfire. It also improves habitat for multiple wildlife species.
The piles will be burned under the authority of an approved burn plan and a smoke permit from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The burn operations will occur Monday through Friday only, and will end two hours before sunset.
For more information contact Garner Harris, 970-878-3824.
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