On November 22nd and 23rd resources were organized at Conboy Lake NWR to conduct prescribed fire operations. This was the first viable opportunity for conducting prescribed fire operations this fall. Previous burn windows were limited due to smoke management issues, burn bans, weather, and hunting season. On the 22nd we attempted to burn the Oxbow unit (FM 3) along Lakeside drive. We were only able to achieve 15-20% consumption of the fuels above ground and little consumption of the organic layer. Late in the day the wind-speed increased to approximately 2-3mph, enabling us to burn about 1 mile of ditches with 85-95% consumption. The two photos that accompany this report illustrate fuels consumed in the lakebed unit and the fire behavior resulting from ignition of a refuge ditch line. Although we were disappointed with the overall results, there were several successes as a result of the prescribed fire operations: 1. A 1/4 acre test under-burn was conducted in ponderosa pine habitat, which provided sound weather and fuels parameters for the burn prescription in this specific geographic location. 2. Burn unit location for ponderosa pine under-burn opportunities were identified and mapped. 3. Burn prescriptions (weather parameters and required resources) were refined to broaden burning opportunities and allow prescribed fire personnel to conduct burning in a safe, efficient, and economical manner. 4. Community outreach regarding the fire and fuels program at Conboy NWR occurred within the town of Glenwood. 5. There was a valuable opportunity for interagency orientation to Conboy NWR, the USFWS, and refuge management. 6. Operations included burning 30 acres of piles and five acres of ditchlines, in addition to 10 acres of broadcast meadow burning.

We will look for opportunities to re-burn the meadow units between February and March 2005. One hundred acres of pile burning will be conducted as soon as the Refuge receives a heavy snow or rain event. We also plan to conduct several hundred acres of under-burning within the ponderosa pine areas of the refuge in April and May.