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Project Name

Torstenson Family Wildlife Center/Double H Ranch Habitat Burn

Date

Spring 2006

Client

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Project Location

Torstenson Family Wildlife Center/Double H Ranch, near Magdalena, New Mexico 34.3N, -107.75W

Type of Project

Habitat restoration and fuels reduction prescribed burning on the Torstenson Family Wildlife Center/Double H Ranch.

Project Objectives

1. To create openings in the juniper and pinyon pine cover to increase available forage and improve range condition. Using burning to kill juniper and pinyon in the area will create openings that will increase the opportunity for sprouting of native bunchgrass. The mixed fire severities produced from burning scattered juniper and pinyon will create a vegetative mosaic that provides edge cover ideal for grazing and escape by deer and elk.

2. To invigorate grass and shrub communities through burning to create increased nutrient and palatibility.

3. Remove understory dead and down material in oak and pine communities through burning to reduce fuel loading.

Photos

Click here to see photos of the NTFI burning crew and of the fire behavior generated by this project.

Maps


Torstenson Family Wildlife Center/Double H Ranch, New Mexico, 2006.


Press Release From Northtree Fire

DATIL, NM- Fire crews have been conducting a prescribed burn to benefit wildlife habitat and to reduce fire risk on the Torstenson Family Wildlife Center/Double H Ranch in West-Central New Mexico. Crews under the direction of NorthTree Fire International - a national leader in contract prescribed burning - responded from as far away as Oregon, Montana, and California.

Incident Commander Ed Waggoner said: We have brought in one of the best teams ever assembled to do this burn. Using a variety of burn technologies, including infrared cameras, terra-torches and helicopters, combined with the best people, we are able to accomplish the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's mission of creating a better habitat while reducing the risk of a catastrophic fire in the future. Working with State and Federal Agencies, this project has been in the planning since 2002.

This massive project not only includes these burns which have been taking place since last week, but also include the restoration of riparian zones and other habitat restoration projects. Wildlife managers from all over the world are watching this project which, according to Bill Ferranti, Ranch Manager for the Torstenson Family Wildlife Center/Double H Ranch, is on the vanguard of wildlife habitat restoration. Using fire to create better wildlife habitat in the Southwest is nothing new, Native Americans used fire for this purpose for hundreds of years. We have just added some science and technology to the process.

Underburning in Ponderosa Pine
Torstenson Family Wildlife Center/Double H Ranch, New Mexico, 2006

This project has been in the making for several years. Burn-boss Rod Hoibakk, working for Bridger Fire out of Bozeman, MT, worked with archeologists and ecologists to design this project. The burn units were designed to minimize the risk of the fire escaping control, to avoid adverse effects of the burning on historic and prehistoric sites, and also, to create burning conditions that would have the most beneficial effects on the wildlife habitat.

Preliminary burning efforts took place in the first week of March 2006, and burned about 4,000 acres within the 12,000 acre project area. All containment lines held, and firing operations were suspended after about 4" of snow blanketed the project area.

Click here to see photos of the NTFI burning crew and of the fire behavior generated by this project.

Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Missoula, MT, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. For more information, visit The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. or call 1-800-CALL ELK


Press Release From The USDA -
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

(Read as Word .doc)

NEWS RELEASE - March 14, 2006 Contact: Barbara Garrett, Public affairs specialist (505)761-4406

Controlled Burn Makes Promise of Better Elk Habitat

DATIL/MAGDALENA-More trophy elk, more mule deer and turkeys, more quail, and generally better wildlife habitat are the goals of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation as it launched its controlled burn plans on the Double H Ranch March 1, between Magdalena and Datil.

"Now they want rain," said John Tunberg, range management specialist at the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). "And it is snowing out there."

The Natural Resources Conservation Service is cost sharing the controlled burn project under its Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

Reggie Fletcher, Double H Ranch ecologist, realized after working with the ranch that its habitat for wildlife could be improved, and that prescribed fire was the best way to do that. In 2002, the Double H approached NRCS and others regarding prescribed burns and organized the project. A private company was hired by the Double H to inventory the land and develop a burn plan, and a couple of test burns were completed.

Another contractor was hired to launch the most recent effort, and on March 1 proceeded with burning the black lines around the perimeter of the area to be fired. On March 7th and 8th the main burn was started, and 3800 acres was burned before the snows came. That is 23 percent of the area planned for burning this year. In another two weeks, work on the main burn will resume after the weather has improved. Meanwhile, a monitoring crew is on-site to ensure no hot spots flare.

It was imperative that the Double H Ranch act, because according to their herd counts the number of elk on the ranch had doubled in the past five years. "Supply and demand were coming together," said Tunberg. "They had an opportunity here to improve habitat, but fuels reduction was also a tertiary result. With this action they can carry more elk, and in general improve the wildlife habitat on the ranch."

The Double H plans for future years include burning on a seven year schedule. By improving the wildlife habitat the ranch can also enhance the experiences for kids it hosts each year such as Scouts, and youth from Magdalena, Datil, and Reserve during Conservation Education Days.

For further information about rangeland improvement opportunities contact John Tunberg at (505)761-4488.


Pre-burn Press Release From Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

(Read as Word .doc)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 28, 2006

Prescribed burn slated for early March at Double H Ranch

DATIL, N.M.óIf all conditions are favorable, wildlife habitat at west-central New Mexicoís Torstenson Family Wildlife Center/Double H Ranch will be getting a facelift in early March. A prescribed fire, to be monitored closely by experts, will remove dead and invasive vegetation from the ranchís landscape, revitalizing native forage for elk, deer, turkey and other species. The burn is planned to encompass approximately 15,000 acres in the Thompson and Long Canyon areas of the ranch.

ìArea residents who notice the smoke can rest assured that weíre keeping a close eye on this project. We have fire experts on hand from a number of agencies and organizations,î said Bill Ferranti, ranch manager at the Torstenson Family Wildlife Center/Double H. ìIn addition to ensuring control of the fire, weíll be monitoring the benefits for wildlife and livestock.î

In addition to restarting plant succession, the prescribed burn will reduce fuel loads and decrease the future threat of uncontrollable, high-intensity fires that could damage the land and destroy structures. Ferranti said a meeting is planned for March 1 to analyze burning conditions, and if all is right, experts may start the fire by March 2. Cooperators include the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, New Mexico State Forestry, U.S. Forest Service, and burn contractor North Tree Enterprises.

The burn is just one aspect of an extensive habitat stewardship project in the Long Canyon and Thompson Canyon areas of the ranch. Plans also include riparian stream enhancement, moving a ranch road, drilling a new water well and adding water storage, water lines and a solar pump, and removal of trees in certain meadows. Long Canyon improvements are expected to cost about $135,000.

In January 2002, the Double H Ranch, in conjunction with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, created a wildlife management plan that targets wildlife enhancement projects on the ranch. This plan identifies Long Canyon as the starting point for work. The ranchís previous owner, Bob Torstenson of Pecatonica, Ill., helped devise those plans before his untimely death. Through his trust, the Double H and a generous endowment were bequeathed to the Elk Foundation. ìNot only is this project a way to enhance wildlife habitat on the ranch, as was the wish of Mr. Torstenson, but it also creates an opportunity to bring together multiple conservation organizations to work cohesively for the good of all wildlife,î said Ferranti.

For more information about the Double H Ranch, now also known as the Torstenson Family Wildlife Center, go to www.elkfoundation.org.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Missoula, Montana, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. The Elk Foundation and its partners have permanently protected more than 1,000 square miles and enhanced 3.8 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. In addition, the foundation has opened over 450,000 acres to public access for hunting, fishing and other enjoyment. The work of 150 staff members, 11,000 active and dedicated volunteers, and 550 chapters in the United States and Canada has benefited a land area nearly twice as large as Yellowstone National Park. To help protect wild elk country, visit www.elkfoundation.org or call 800-CALL-ELK.

This news release also posted at www.elkfoundation.org. For more information contact Double H Ranch Manager Bill Ferranti at 505-772-5665 or Blake Henning at 406-523-0273, or Mark Armstrong at 406-523-3431.

RMEF.org

Fuels Project Manager

Jerry Ortega
530.743.7530 / dispatch