HomeMy WebLinkAbout20060458.tiff United States Forest Pawnee 660"0"Street
USDA Department of Service National Grassland Greeley,CO 80631
Agriculture Voice: (970)346-5000 TDD:(970)346-5015
Web: www.fs.fed.us/r2larnf
Fax: (970)346-5014
File Code: 2670-3
Date: February 17, 2006
Dear Stakeholder:
The Pawnee National Grassland is preparing to implement the 2006 Prescribed Fire Program for
Mountain Plover Habitat Effectiveness as reflected in my amended Decision Memos dated
January 5, 2005 and April 12, 2004. These amended decision memos are available for review at
the PNG office located at 660 O Street, Greeley, CO 80631.
Each year, the PNG burns several blocks on the Grassland to restore and maintain nesting habitat
for mountain plover. We have been prescribed burning to maintain and restore mountain plover
nest habitat since 1994. In recent years, our burning program has grown and we are planning to
burn a total of 6,191 acres during 2006. Ideal conditions for burning for mountain plover nest
habitat usually begin in mid to late February. Our goal is to complete the burning before
mountain plover and other birds begin to arrive on their nesting grounds in late March and early
April.
This year, we are planning to burn approximately 3,696 acres on the West Side of the Grassland,
and 2,495 acres are planned for the East Side. Seven blocks are planned on the West Side
varying in acreage from 212 to 852 acres. Four blocks are planned on the East Side varying in
acreage from 575 to 640 acres. Maps of the planned burn areas are attached.
I am concerned about the current dry conditions and the low soil moisture content and their
potential effects on the regeneration of healthy grass cover. Without good regeneration of the
grass, unacceptable soil erosion could occur. We are monitoring soil moisture and the weather
forecast to ensure the best possible outcomes from any prescribed fire activity. Because of the
lack of soil moisture, I have decided to wait on burning until soil moisture improves. Because
we may still get enough moisture this spring to give us the opportunity to burn, we are
proceeding with the necessary planning and preparations including selecting the burn units,
completing the Prescribed Fire Burn Plan, obtaining smoke permits from the State, preparing
burn equipment and personnel, and improving control lines of the burn units. We will also
continue to monitor weather and soil moisture conditions. If conditions become favorable, I plan
to conduct prescribed burning on the PNG in 2006.
The following provisions continue to apply to the Prescribed Fire Program on the PNG:
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4- The program will establish a ten year fire cycle (Decision Memo dated 2/6/97).
1 Burning may occur between December and May in any year. If burning occurs in April
or May, timely concurrence must first be received from a specialist in plovers that
burning remains seasonally appropriate, including confirming that birds have not started
to nest on the area proposed to be burned (Amendment dated 1/30/02).
4- The area available for burning is expanded from"24 sections of land"to "areas within
the Pawnee National Grassland characterized as having "short" vegetation structure
and having the potential to provide nesting habitat for mountain plovers" (Amendment
dated 4/12/04).
4 Provides for variability in precipitation and weather patterns and the long-term effects of
burning on vegetation and soils by setting a range of soil moisture levels that are
desirable prior to burning. An approximate level of 12 to 15 inches of soil moisture
would be used in combination with long range weather forecasts to make the decision to
burn or not to burn a given area in a given year (Amendment dated 4/12/04).
4 The areas burned would be closed to general public entry immediately after burning is
completed. The closure would be in effect until mountain plover nesting season is
completed (through July 15 each year) (Amendment dated 4/12/04).
We appreciate your continued interest and support of the PNG prescribed burning program for
maintenance and restoration of mountain plover habitat. If you have any questions about
prescribed burning on the PNG, please call Steve Currey or Beth Humphrey at (970) 346-5000.
Sincerely,
/2
L7' Li l,i'l'
STEVEN R. CURREY (
District Ranger JJJ
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