Idaho Fish and Game in coordination with the Idaho Department of Lands and US Forest Service will be initiating prescribed burn operations on the Red River WMA in mid-April to May, as weather permits. The prescribed burn area is a 314-acre meadow located along Red River Road (County Road 222) accessed from State Highway 14 southwest of Elk City. Road signs will be placed along the road and those traveling the route should expect to encounter fire personnel and equipment. No other impacts to County Road 222 are expected.
Prescribed burn operations scheduled on Red River WMA starting mid April
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The three agencies have been working together on this project since 2021, when the first prescribed burn operation was ignited on the WMA. Initial project success is illustrated in the photos below.
Prescribed burn efforts on Red River WMA are planned to continue in future years to achieve shared management objectives including:
- Increasing spring/summer forage for elk and other big game species.
- Moving the landscape towards desired ecological conditions.
- Assisting with the suppression of noxious weeds.
- Alleviating elk use and depredation on adjacent private lands.
- Increasing wildland fire protection for the Elk City community within the wildland urban interface.
- And maintaining interagency partnerships, and collaborative efforts on the Red River WMA and surrounding national forest lands.
