The Dolores Ranger District is planning to conduct several prescribed burns starting in mid-August.
Burning operations will take place over multiple days when weather and fuel conditions are favorable. Both hand and aerial ignition methods will be used, and will continue throughout the fall based on conditions.
Project areas identified for burn implementation are for 3,702 acres in the Boggy Draw area along Forest Roads 526, 527, 528 and 529.
Burning operations will be conducted by U.S. Forest Service personnel, assisted by fire resources from cooperating agencies.
During burning operations, smoke will likely be visible from areas around Mancos, Dolores, Dove Creek, Cortez and U.S. Highway 491 between Dove Creek and Pleasant View.
Smoke may settle into low-lying valleys, and the Dolores River Canyon overnight. Smoke monitoring will be conducted, and ignitions will be scheduled to minimize smoke impacts to communities.
This effort will reduce hazardous ground fuels, lessen the risk of unplanned large scale wildfire, help restore ponderosa pine ecosystems, and improve wildlife habitat. Prescribed burning operations will begin only when weather, fuels and smoke parameters are met.
For more information, contact Matt Traynham, assistant fire management officer, Dolores Ranger District, at 882-6838, visit www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan, or follow the San Juan National Forest on Twitter and on Facebook.
Maps of the prescribed burn units can be found on Inciweb
