BLM plans prescribed burn in Trail Gulch
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CANON CITY, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management is preparing to conduct a prescribed burn in the Trail Gulch area, approximately 15 miles northwest of Canon City between Shelf Road and High Park Road in northern Fremont County.
Depending on weather and fuel moisture conditions, the prescribed burn could begin in early to mid-October. Approximately 385 acres of BLM land will be treated to reduce accumulated hazardous fuel and improve wildlife habitat. Targeted fuels include ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, juniper and residual slash from previous thinning treatments.
The project will create a mosaic of burned and unburned areas intended to reduce conifer encroachment in grass parks while improving forage for wildlife and domestic livestock. Prescribed fire also helps to create various stages of plant succession, which is critical to the health of fire-adapted ecosystems.
Smoke from the prescribed burn will be visible throughout the day of the burn, mostly during the warmest part of the day. With cooler temperatures in the evening, smoke may linger and accumulate in low lying areas.
According to the Colorado Air Quality Division, "prescribed fire smoke may affect your health." For more information see https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colo_advisory.aspx
For additional information, contact Ty Webb (719) 269-8560 at the BLM, Royal Gorge Field Office in Canon City.
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.