The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Cibola National Wildlife Refuge will be taking a proactive management action in restoring native habitats by conducting a prescribed fire, beginning on or about May 25.
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Dead, non-native Salt Cedar that has been mechanically removed from the ground and piled in cleared areas will be hand ignited by fire personnel using drip torches. Fire is the most cost effective way to dispose of the unwanted vegetation.
Restoration plans have been completed and Refuge Staff and Volunteers will plant native species once the post fire debris has been removed. The total area encompasses 395 acres. Removal of invasive salt cedar and the replanting of native, fire resistant species will reduce the possibility of a major wildfire that may threaten homes or private land while significantly enhancing critical wildlife habitat.
Prescribed burning, under an approved plan with adequate firefighting resources, is the best method to prevent loss from a wildfire. Firefighters from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs and local fire departments may be assisting local Refuge fire management personnel during the burn.
Service fire management personnel will closely monitor weather and fuel conditions to maximize burn results and minimize smoke impacts on adjacent communities. Burns will only be conducted during the daytime hours. Cibola, Blythe and the surrounding communities may be heavily impacted by smoke during the burn. Smoke may also be visible to residents in Cibola, Blythe, Martinez Lake, Yuma, Quartzite and Parker.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
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