Prescribed fire that is planned to the habitat of the water birds on Ocean Lake Whma

Lander, Wyo. – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation will implement a prescribed fire to ponds 1 and 2 in Ocean Lake Wildlife Habitat Management Area.

Depending on the weather conditions, the prescribed fire is planned for some time in March.

The prescribed fire is part of an ongoing program for sweeping tail management in order to increase the productivity and health of wetlands. The pond vegetation on the Ocean Lake Whma almost exclusively consists of piston. Cattails' intervention reduced the open water for water birds and the search for food.

After burning, the pipe mouts are reduced to around 30 percent of the electricity level, which leads to increased open water, vegetative diversity and the availability of feed. Similar prescribed burns occurred in previous years.

Smoke from the prescribed combustion will be visible from the surrounding areas, including the city of Riverton. The residents should expect temporary smoke near the burn. Some streets within the Ocean Lake Whma can be closed for the fire service staff and for public security. The prescribed combustion on pond 1 and 2 is expected to take one to two days. The data is subject to the weather conditions.

For more information about the fire, people can call Justin Rhine at 307-448-0995 or visit the website of public access.