Stewart Lake WMA Prescribed Fire Project
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2022
JENSEN, Utah — The Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands and the Division of Wildlife Resources in partnership with Lone Peak Conservation Center, the Ashley National Forest, Bureau of Land Management Green River District, the Uintah Basin Interagency Fire Center, Jensen Fire Department, and Uintah Fire District will conduct prescribed-fire operations within the vicinity of Stewart Lake Wildlife Management Area, south of Jensen Utah in Uintah County when favorable weather conditions exist.
The objective of land managers is to remove dead fuels of cattails, phragmites, bulrush, and other vegetation to improve wildlife habitat by reducing selenium by exposure of area through removal of surface vegetation. Previous vegetation control methods (mechanical and spraying) have not been successful.
Due to the prescription area being adjacent to the Green River, wind patterns in the river corridor are very unpredictable. Fire personnel plan to take the appropriate precautions when the weather allows for ignitions to occur. Mowing and additional prep work have already been completed within the project’s vicinity. The target date for completion is before March 1, 2022.
Smoke from this burn will be visible in the surrounding areas of the Uintah Basin as it is a heavy fuel load of cattails, phragmites, bulrush. An approximate 210 acres will be burned. Duration will be one day though isolated smoldering may continue for 2-3 days after. Post-burn monitoring will continue to occur for several days after.
For questions, please direct your concerns to the DWR Vernal Office at 435-781-9453. Fire and operational questions can be directed to Ryan LaFontaine, the Area Fire Management Officer, 385-375-0552, or Fire Warden, Corey Auger, 435-828-1068.
