Fire officials with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management plan to conduct a controlled pasture burn at Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area at the end of June. Approximately 100 acres will be carefully burned to help improve forage for the elk that frequent the popular wildlife viewing area.

Burning is tentatively schedule to begin this week and last one to two days. According to Bill Elam, fuels specialist with the BLM, the exact burning dates may change due to weather conditions and the amount of regional wildfire activity.

The prescribed burning is part of BLM’s yearly efforts to improve grazing conditions so the wild herd of 80 to 100 Roosevelt elk will continue to use the pastures.

According to Bob Golden, Dean Creek site manager, burning the pastures has proven very effective. “We’ve been doing prescribed burns at Dean Creek for several years now,” said Golden in a press release. “It seems to be the best way to remove the inedible grasses and weeds that build up in the pastures to make room for palatable food the elk love.”

Smoke from the burns may cause occasional traffic delays on state Highway 38, just east of Reedsport. Motorists are asked to travel cautiously past the Dean Creek area and traffic controllers will help direct traffic during periods of reduced visibility.

The bathrooms, viewing platforms, and the interpretive kiosk at Dean Creek will remain open during the pasture burning.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, a long-term BLM partner in managing the site, contributed $5,000 in matching funds to the project.