BLM Plans Prescribed Fire in Cibola County
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rio Puerco Field Office plans to conduct an approximately 4,500 acre prescribed fire 40 miles southeast of Grants, New Mexico, within the El Malpais National Conservation Area (NCA) from April 10 through April 30, weather permitting. The prescribed fire is being conducted in cooperation with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
This is the second phase of a multi-year forest restoration project on the Mertz Ranch portion of the NCA. The goal is to improve ecological health of ponderosa pine forests and open up grassy meadows that have become choked with pinon and juniper trees and dense stands of ponderosa pine.
The project location is approximately 40 miles southeast of Grants, New Mexico, in the Gibson and Blue Water Canyon area east of State Highway 117. Smoke may be visible from Interstate 40 and State Highways 53 and 117.
For additional information about this planned burn, please contact Fire Management Officer Todd Richards at 505-761-8769 or Fuels Specialist Zach Saavedra at 505-761-8963.
The BLM manages more than 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.