AMARILLO, Texas - The Bureau of Land Management has planned a prescribed burn, of up to 4,300 acres, in the Cross Bar Management Area, approximately 15 miles north of Amarillo, Texas. The burn area is located south of the Canadian River, about two miles west of U.S. Highway 87/287 near the Canadian River Bridge. Ignition operations are planned between Feb. 26 and March 4, weather permitting.
The objectives for this prescribed burn are to maintain the native grass species by reducing decadent mesquite, cholla cactus and tamarisk; lessen wildfire risks by reducing heavy fuel loads; improve ecosystem health; and enhance wildlife habitat.
The federal government purchased the land situated in the Cross Bar in 1931, as part of establishing the strategic helium reserve. The management area encompasses approximately 12,000 acres. The BLM manages the area for its ecological and recreational value.
For information about the prescribed burn, please contact BLM Natural Resource Specialist Adrian Escobar at 806-356-1008.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
