Pile burns planned for Lake Bowdoin Area

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Bureau of Land Management

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(MALTA, Mont.) – Columns of smoke may soon be seen rising from the Lake Bowdoin vicinity.

Pile burn
In the lower right corner, BLM Wildland Firefighter Clint
Mrnak looks back at a slash pile he ignited with a drip
torch. (BLM Photo by Jonathan Moor)

Hand-stacked piles comprised of severed Russian olive will be ignited by Bureau of Land Management North Central Montana District Fire personnel about 15 miles east of Malta, Mont.

The piles are located along the north shore of Lake Bowdoin.

With snow covering the project area, active ignition will occur over 1-3 days. Smoke may be present anywhere from 1-2 days after ignition.

“The removal of this invasive species will improve riparian vegetation and improve nutrients and moisture availability,” explained Fuels Specialist Mike Solheim.

The BLM is making America great through shared conservation. As stewards, the BLM manages public lands for the benefit of current and future generations, supporting conservation as we pursue our multiple-use mission. 


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.