BLM Lander Field Office plans to conduct a prescribed burn
LANDER, Wyo. — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lander Field Office plans to conduct a prescribed burn in the Ocean Lake Wildlife Habitat Management Area (WHMA), west of Riverton, as part of BLM’s commitment to keeping public landscapes healthy and productive.
The BLM will work collaboratively with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department implementing prescribed burns at Ocean Lake WHMA. This project is a continuation of a multi-year collaborative effort between the BLM, Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Bureau of Reclamation.
The prescribed burn will take place on Ponds 1, 2, 5 and 6 over the next month when weather and fuel moisture conditions allow for safe, effective operations. Smoke may be visible during the burn, and some roads within Ocean Lake WHMA may be temporarily closed for fire personnel and public safety.
Ocean Lake WHMA ponds are dominated by cattails, which can crowd out open water needed for waterfowl to nest and feed. Prescribed burns are an important management tool to restore balance, reducing cattail density, improving wetland health, and creating more open water and forage for wildlife.
“These prescribed burns improve land, vegetation, and wildlife habitat,” said BLM Fuels Program Manager Rance Neighbors. “They also reduce hazardous fuel build-up, lowering the risk of severe wildfires.”
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For more information, contact Rance Neighbors at (307) 347-5148.
The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.