U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Bear Lake National
Wildlife Refuge- Montpelier, Idaho
Contact: Jeremy Jirak- Bear Lake NWR Manager
jeremy_jirak@fws.gov
Phone #: 208-847-1757
The Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge staff will be
conducting two management actions this fall in order to improve habitat and
management capacity at the refuge.
A prescribed fire will be taking place on the west side of
the refuge in the Bloomington Unit. Burn operations will occur over a couple
days between September 15th and October 31st, 2016. The prescribed fire can
only occur when weather and field conditions meet prescription so that the burn
can be carried out safely. The prescribed fire is intended to reduce dead
wetland vegetation and increase the quality of wetland habitat. This unit of the refuge is not open to the
public. However waterfowl hunters and other recreationist should be aware of burn
operations and possible road closures during burn days.
This fall the refuge will also be drawing down water levels
in all of the wetland units beginning around September 15th. Wetland units are being drawn down to allow
for a LiDAR flight. LiDAR is a technique
where an airplane flies over and surveys the elevation of the ground with lasers.
Water levels must be low as possible during the flight to map the bottoms of
the wetland units. This will allow refuge staff to more accurately track and
manage the amount of water in the refuge.
The flight will take place mid-October.
After this time the refuge will begin refilling its wetlands with water
before the winter. Recreationist should be aware of dangerous flowing water
conditions around water control structures and steer clear of these areas.
During the hunting season hunters can expect lower water
levels and decreased access to the hunting areas due to the low water conditions.
This project will only be during the 2016 hunting season and water levels are
expected to be normal for the 2017 hunting season.
If you have any questions about either activity, please
contact the Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge Office at: 208-847-1757. Thank you for your cooperation.
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