BLM to conduct prescribed fire at Dos Palmas Preserve in Riverside County
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MORENO VALLEY, Calif. – Fire crews from the Bureau of Land Management and cooperating agencies will conduct a prescribed fire in the Dos Palmas Preserve over the course of one day between Jan. 4 and 15, 2021. The prescribed fire will only be ignited under specific weather conditions which will allow for safe and successful burning and smoke dispersion. Smoke may be visible from the community of North Shore and Highway 111 during ignitions, which will occur between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
“The prescribed fire is part of an ongoing effort to maintain the preserve’s important marshland habitat in a healthy condition,” said Chelsea Collins, Dos Palmas Preserve Manager. “The burn will treat 25 acres of habitat for the Yuma Ridgway’s rail species and is designed to maintain suitable marshland habitat for the endangered bird.”
The preserve is part of the Dos Palmas Area of Critical Environmental Concern. In addition to the rail, the site is also home to the endangered desert pupfish and is used by migrating birds and other wildlife.
The Dos Palmas Preserve encompasses 15,000 acres and is cooperatively managed by the BLM, the Center for Natural Lands Management, and the San Diego County Water Authority.
Additional information is available by contacting the BLM fuels specialist James Gannon at 951-697-5307.
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.