Release Date: Oct 17, 2013
Contact(s): Sue Farley,Vegetation Management Planner (760) 924-5535.

The Mammoth and Mono Lake Ranger Districts of the Inyo National Forest and the north zone for the Bishop Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management are planning to implement several prescribed fire projects for habitat improvement and hazardous fuels reduction in the upcoming fall and winter months. Prescribed burn operations will be conducted when weather and fuel moisture conditions are within prescription to safely accomplish the project objectives. Smoke may be visible at time from Highways 395, 158, 167, 120 and 203, as well as the communities of Bridgeport, Mono City, Lee Vining, June Lake, Mammoth Lakes and Crowley Lake. All prescribed burning activities will be coordinated with Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District in accordance with air resource objectives.

Understory burning in the Jeffrey pine forest is expected to begin mid-October in areas east of Highway 395 on National Forest lands near Bald Mountain. Following the accumulation of snow from fall storms, slash pile burning will be conducted, and is expected to continue into early winter. Pile burning is planned on National Forest lands in the Reds Meadow valley in cooperation with the National Park Service pile burning at Devils Postpile National Monument. Pile burning is also planned on National Forest lands at Panorama Dome west of Mammoth Lakes, east of Highway 395 near Smokey Bear Flat, near the Crestview rest stop on Highway 395, west of Highway 395 along Deadman Creek Road, east of Highway 395 between the Owens River Road and Bald Mountain Road, and in the Down Canyon area of June Lake. Pile burning is planned on BLM lands in Aurora Canyon east of Bridgeport.

For further information, please call Sue Farley, Vegetation Management Planner with Inyo National Forest and BLM Bishop Field Office, at (760) 924-5535.