Prescribed Burns Planned in Chaves County
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Beginning in February and continuing through spring 2019, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) New Mexico plans to conduct prescribed burns in Chaves County. The Sand Ranch prescribed fire consists of three burn units located 40 miles east of Roswell. The operations are dependent upon favorable weather conditions and will take several days to complete. Smoke from the burns may be visible from surrounding communities and nearby roadways. Please exercise caution and avoid areas impacted by smoke and burn operations.
The objectives of this project are to reduce the amount of vegetation available to wildfire and to conduct research to determine how wildlife and plant species may respond to the burns. Other goals include improving watershed, habitat, health, vigor, and increasing competitive ability of the native plant community.
The prescribed fire requirements include having the appropriate weather conditions and the required personnel and equipment on hand. Environmental trends, conditions at the time of the project implementation and forecasts will be taken into consideration to minimize negative impacts. Measures will be taken to reduce the amount of smoke created by the prescribed fires.
For more information on this prescribed burn please call Nathan Curnutt at 575-627-0311.
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.