Conditions permitting, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in conjunction with the Department of Army and the Jornada Experimental Range, will be prescribed burning approximately 10,847 acres containing Piedmont grassland habitats and mixed desert shrub within the San Andres Mountains on the San Andres National Wildlife Refuge from June 2 through June 5, 2004. The Mayberry burn site is located on the north quarter of the Refuge approximately 22 miles northeast of Las Cruces, New Mexico within the boundaries of the White Sands Missile Range managed by the Department of Army. The area is not open to the public.
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0.7in In order to protect sensitive habitats within the burn unit, fire crews conducted blacklining operations around the unit's perimeter in April. Blacklining is done by burning vegetation along the inside edge of the burn unit creating a protective barrier around the entire unit.
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0.7in Ignition will occur in accordance to a Prescribed Burn Plan containing fire behavior and weather prescriptions intended to insure that the fire is safely contained within the burn unit and that smoke generated by the fire bears little impact in sensitive population areas. At times, smoke and flames may be visible to the public, especially at night. A helicopter will be utilized for ignition within the burn unit while the perimeter will be hand ignited.
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0.7in The fire may last several days and will be managed by firefighters from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
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0.7in The burn is expected to restore habitat and increase the quality and quantity of forage for the refuge's endangered desert bighorn sheep population as well as other species. Fuels reduction will prevent future catastrophic wildfires, help to protect archaeological and historic sites, reduce woody species such as pinyon and juniper, and increase native grasses ultimately decreasing soil erosion.
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0.7in Members of the public having questions about the event may visit the Refuge Headquarters located at Highway 70 and the northeast corner of Santa Gertrudis Road between mileposts 159 and 160, just to the east of Las Cruces.
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0.7in MEDIA ADVISORY : Because the burn site is within restricted military lands and the event is hazardous, access is limited. Media representatives wanting access must register with the White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs Office by calling
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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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>http://Southwest.fws.gov"><
