PRESCRIBED BURN PLANNED FOR LOST SPRINGS 2023 NEAR TATA CREEK, BC
April 1st, 2023
TaTa Creek/LD Ranch Road/Meadowbrook/Wasa- The public is advised that the Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration Program in conjunction with the BC Wildfire Services and the Rocky Mountain Trench Natural Resources Society are planning to conduct a prescribed burn in the TaTa Creek area between April 3rd - May 13th, 2023, weather and burning conditions permitting.
The prescribed burn is being conducted for ecosystem restoration purposes and will occur on Lost Springs pasture southeast of the TaTa Creek community (North of LD Ranch Road and East of Hwy95A). The proposed burn area is approximately 348 hectares.
Historically, the forests in the Rocky Mountain Trench were renewed through frequent, low-intensity ground fires. Such fires removed the shrubby understory and created a relatively open forest with large, healthy trees. The exclusion of fire from the landscape over recent decades has increased the fuels that contribute to the risk of more intense and damaging fires; and reduced the amount of grasslands and open forests in the Rocky Mountain Trench. Combined with other factors, the resulting forest ingrowth has caused an overall deterioration in wildlife habitat, cattle forage and other forest values.
The reintroduction of low-intensity ground fires to these forests is intended to maintain and restore what ecologist describe as “fire maintained, Douglas fir, fescue grass community”, which is natural for these sites.
The prescribed fire is part of an ongoing restoration program with the BC Provincial Government in partnership with many non-government organizations. For more information, visit www.trench-er.com & Cultural Burning & Prescribed Fire BC.
The public is invited to contact the Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration Program, as noted below, to discuss the use of fire as a management tool and other aspects of the ecosystem restoration program.
Contacts:
Kim Wright, Fire Information Officer BC Wildfire Service Southeast Fire Centre Phone: 778-364-1236 Email: Kim.Wright@gov.bc.ca
Scott Hicks, Stewardship Officer Ministry of Forests Phone: 250-420-6441 Email: Scott.Hicks@gov.bc.ca
Marc Trudeau, Coordinator Rocky Mountain Trench Natural Resources Society Phone: 250-427-1138 Email: Marc@Trench-Society.com
