Slaughter Mesa Prescribed Fire Update

Category: Local News Releases Local News Releases
Published: 25 March 2015 25 March 2015

QUEMADO, N.M., March 25, 2015 - The Slaughter Mesa Prescribed Fire on the Gila National Forest may be underway again this week as environmental conditions reach appropriate levels for managers to resume the project. The 2,500-acre project is eight miles southeast of Quemado Lake on the Quemado Ranger District. Fire managers plan to continue operations on Slaughter Mesa through April 30 pending favorable conditions.

Project objectives include improving forest health and watershed conditions, restoring grasslands, enhancing wildlife habitat and reducing hazardous fuels. This prescribed fire will help restore pronghorn migration corridors to prevent isolating the Slaughter Mesa pronghorn population. Approximately 250 acres have been accomplished to date.

Support for this project is provided by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Big Game enhancement and Habitat Stamp Improvement Programs, Wild Turkey Federation, Secure Rural Schools Act and Natural Resource Conservation Services.

The project area is near the junction of Forest Road 93 (Dead Horse Canyon Rd.) and County Road A095 (Mangas Mountain Road). Smoke will be noticeable north of the project from Highway 60, to the west from Quemado Lake and Quemado Lake Estates and east of the project from Pie Town, NM. Please use caution if traveling near the prescribed burn area.

Prescribed fire is an effective tool managers use to lower the risk of future severe wildfire. Implementation of the project will depend on availability of personnel and equipment, New Mexico Environment Department Air Quality Bureau approval and the appropriate conditions. Fire managers follow a burn plan that outlines the "prescription" or environmental conditions such as temperature, wind, fuel moisture, ventilation, and humidity that need to be met before the project begins.

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.