The Journal
A Bureau of Land Management Southwest Colorado Fire and Aviation Management Unit will conduct prescribed pile burns in several locations on BLM-administered lands in the Tres Rios Field Office as early as Monday as conditions allow, including:
Dry Creek Basin project area adjacent to the Dry Creek Basin State Wildlife Area about 15 miles southwest of Norwood near U29 Road north of State Highway 141. The BLM plans to burn 300 piles of cut tamarisk on 104 acres. McElmo Creek/Yellow Jacket Creek piles within Canyons of the Ancients National Monument along Montezuma County Road G east of the Colorado-Utah border. The BLM plans to burn 300 piles of cut tamarisk and Russian olive on 293 acres.These prescribed burn projects restore riparian habitat by removing invasive plant species in coordination with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and in accordance with detailed burn plans that outline specific parameters for the burns.
The BLM has obtained required smoke permits from the Colorado State Air Pollution Control Division that identify atmospheric conditions under which the burns can be implemented and will adhere to a detailed burn plan that outlines strict parameters for prescribed burns. Pile burning may take multiple days to complete and will be closely monitored to ensure public safety. While visible at times, most smoke should lift and dissipate during the warmest parts of the day.
For more information, contact the Tres Rios Field Office at 882-1120.