Trio Of Prescribed Burns Slated For Northcentral Washington

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife plans prescribed burns in the coming weeks on three wildlife areas in Okanogan County, weather and air-quality conditions permitting. Planned burns include:

Golden Doe Unit of the Methow Wildlife Area: Approximately 90 acres in Okanogan County, 4 miles south of Twisp.
Carter Mountain Unit of the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area: Approximately 100 acres in Okanogan County, 6 miles southwest of Tonasket.
Driscoll Island Unit of the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area: Approximately 40 acres Located 1 mile south of Oroville.

WDFW says the burns will reduce invasive vegetation, improve wildlife habitat and promote native plants. Officials say prescribed fire can also reduce the intensity and spread of wildfires.

The agency said funding for forest management and fuel reduction has fallen 80%, from $6 million to one-point-two million per biennium. WDFW is seeking an additional four-point-eight million dollars per biennium to restore that funding.

“Current funding is not sufficient to maintain decades of investment in healthy ecosystems and the public benefits that they provide: protecting communities from intense wildfires; enhancing ecosystems and species; reducing wildfire damage costs; and supporting local communities and economies,” said Cynthia Wilkerson, deputy wildlife program manager for WDFW.

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