By Taylor Johnson
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The City of Phoenix, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM), and the Phoenix Fire Department have scheduled a prescribed burn at the Tres Rios Wetlands for October, as reported on the city’s official website. Residents should note that the tentative date for the controlled burn is Tuesday, Oct. 7, with weather conditions playing a significant role and might alter the plan. The effort intends to manage overgrowth and restore the riparian habitat in the area.
During the burn set to reduce dense vegetation, 91st Avenue will be closed from the 91st Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant North Gate to Baseline Road from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., subject to safety, and may reopen earlier. The burn operation, which aims to nurture the ecosystem’s health by mimicking natural processes, is expected to be visible as a smoke plume in southwest Phoenix and nearby locales. Residents have been advised of potential road closures and smoke in the area.
In discussing the necessity of the burn, the Phoenix Water Services Department underscored that previous mechanical attempts to maintain the wetlands vegetation were neither efficient nor economically viable. They determined that prescribed burns are a more optimal approach to preserve the area, and additionally help reduce the danger of wildland fire to surrounding communities.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service Tres Rios Safe Harbor Agreement allows for such interventions from October to February, a period chosen to prevent breeding disruptions for local wildlife. October is ideal for this year’s burn as risks of “No Burn Days” issued by the Maricopa County Air Quality Department increase progressively into the winter months. The burn area will cover approximately 110 acres, designated within the Tres Rios Flow Regulating Wetland (FRW) unit FRW-1. The operation’s success will see a water truck deployed to quell residual activity, ensuring perimeter security and environmental compliance before water is released back into the Tres Rios Overbank Wetlands. Water quality will be monitored with a rigor that respects both the land and its lingering shadows of fire.
For this year’s burn, the Arizona DFFM will lead the exercise with the Phoenix Fire Department and other City partners assisting primarily with ignition and containment measures. Simultaneously, it will serve as a training ground, offering Phoenix firefighters a chance to sharpen skills essential in confronting wildfires that pose a threat to the city. Training exercises will include certifications ranging from Wildland Firefighting to Drone Mapping and Incident Command integration.
Various stakeholders are involved in the planning and execution of the Tres Rios prescription burn. These include the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Gila River Indian Community (GRIC), the Maricopa County Air Quality Department, and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, alongside others such as local airports, emergency services, utility companies, and the residents.
The Tres Rios Wetlands function primarily as a place where treated wastewater is repurposed, contributing to nearly 700 acres of rehabilitated wetland and riparian habitats. This area abounds with over 150 bird species and various mammals, nurtured by the reed-lined ponds and desert plant life supported by the treated wastewater. While the Tres Rios FRWs are solely for those efforts and thus closed to the public, the Tres Rios OBWs are accessible through a free permit system.
Media interested in covering the prescribed burn can contact the senior public information officer, Michael Gertzman, at 602-534-1209 or by email at michael.gertzman@phoenix.gov, and Capt. Rob McDade of the Phoenix Fire Department at 480-216-9712 or robert.mcdade@phoenix.gov. They’ve also been asked not to operate drones in or around the burn area to prevent operational disturbances and for safety reasons.