Prescribed burns at the Pawnee National Grassland are costly, dangerous environmental hazards and the Weld County Commissioners want them snuffed.
The burns are traditionally used in spring to cut down on grassland fuel for potential fires and to maintain a sound environment on the 193,060 acres of national grassland in northeastern Weld County.
But the commissioners last month renewed their objection to the burns and asked members of Colorado’s congressional delegation to investigate the cost and safety of the annual event.
In a letter to U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and Mark Udall as well as U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey, the commissioners took issue with the 3,000-acre burn that occurred the week of March 16.
They said the cost of the prescribed burns — which appears in excess of $20 per acre — is too expensive while other problems, including bark beetle control, should be getting higher spending priority.
Commissioners also said prescribed burning is an inefficient way to manage vegetation compared with grazing and that dry weather in northern Colorado has reduced soil moisture and the ability to sustain revegetation.
In addition, adjacent landowners were not consulted about the burns, the commissioners said. “The risks of soil erosion and wildfire escape are borne by adjacent landowners without compensation or insurance supplied by the” U.S. Forest Service, said the commissioners.
Forest Service spokeswoman Reghan Cloudman said the agency is piecing together a response to the commissioners for the Colorado delegation, adding that most of the concerns have been addressed.
This year’s prescribed burn was cut in half, compared with the traditional 5,000- to-6,000-acre burn, Cloudman said.
“We are happy with the professionalism of the folks who handled the burn, and we are happy to address any concerns anyone may have about the burn,” she said.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
