LOWMAN - The Lowman Ranger District of the Boise National Forest plans to start their annual spring prescribed burn program in the upcoming weeks as the winter snow pack recedes in the mountains.

The Emmett Ranger District has no planned burns for this spring on either the east or west sides of the District.

On the Lowman District, three prescribed burning operations are planned and include Casner Creek located in the drainage just west of the Warm Springs Airstrip,

Bear Creek northwest of the Grand-Jean Lodge and Oxbow located within the Deadwood Drainage near the confluence of the Deadwood and South Fork of the Payette Rivers.

Officials say the burns will be ignited by dropping small, chemically treated plastic spheres from a helicopter that ignite after hitting the ground. The district plans to treat about 1,770 acres in this manner.

The objective of these prescribed burns is to use low severity and moderate intensity fire on 30-60 percent of the area to reduce the accumulation of litter, duff and dead woody debris and reduce the "ladder fuel" effect that has developed due to a lack of periodic fire occurrence. Burning will reduce decadent brush and stimulate a less flammable young shrub component that is more palatable for big game animals. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is in partnership with the Forest Service providing financial support to the Casner Creek project.

Site-specific burn plans have been developed for each prescribed burn to address potential smoke management concerns and establish mitigations. Signs will be posted on roads and trails near the burn area to notify travelers and hunters when burning is in progress.

All burns will be conducted when there is favorable atmospheric ventilation and wind to minimize smoke impacts to local communities. Although every effort is made to reduce smoke intrusion to populated areas, local residents and forest visitors may notice smoke from these prescribed burn projects for a few days following ignition, particularly in the evening hours.

For more information on this spring's burning program, contact Doug Brown at the Lowman Ranger District 208-259-3361. The Boise National Forest Prescribed Fire also has a website at http://www.rxfire.com or call the Prescribed Fire Hotline at 208-373-4208 for daily and weekly updates. .