On March 29, 2007, Pecos National Historical Park conducted their first prescribed broadcast burn. Two-hundred and one acres of the historic pasture lands west of the Pecos River were treated. This was the third phase of an approximately 1500 acre project that began during summer 2005.
“The program, as outlined in the park’s fire management plan, will help to protect our natural and cultural resources from wildfire, restore the historic landscape, and is a big step towards realigning our vegetation with the natural processes that shaped this land and the ways humans have lived here for centuries, said Superintendent Kathy Billings.
During Phase I, cultural sites in the treatment area were identified and vegetation was cut with handsaws and chainsaws from cultural sites and fencelines to be hand carried off-site or away from fencelines. Seventy-five to one-hundred percent of the coniferous trees and other woody vegetation from the treatment area not included in Phase I were removed, shredded, and spread during Phase II.
A number of subject matter experts including entomologists and forest pest management specialists were consulted regarding concerns about piñon ips bark beetle epidemic which affected much of northern New Mexico. They determined that the timing of the treatment would not significantly contribute to an increase in the piñon ips population and made additional recommendations that were incorporated into the treatment guidelines.
Now that a solid grass cover has been established, occasional prescribed burning will discourage the growth to help maintain healthy pastures and open views that existed on the land when it was used as a cattle ranch.
By reestablishing and maintaining the pastures, the park will reduce the amount of fuels available to a wildfire, create “buffer zones” that will help firefighters control fires that do start, and decrease the chance that a wildfire could move across the park’s boundary.
Contact: Dan Jacobs, Chief Park Ranger
Phone: (505) 757-6414 x 231
*This story supports the National Fire Plan |
