Crystal Creek Reservoir prescribed fire planned to improve forest health

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Feb. 4, 2025 — The Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands, Pikes Peak Ranger District plans to conduct prescribed fire activities on approximately 200 acres of National Forest System lands in the Crystal Creek Reservoir area of El Paso County.

Implementation of the Crystal Creek Reservoir prescribed fire is expected to begin as soon as conditions allow, which could be as early as late February and as late as May 2025. The project is located on the North Slope Recreation Area of Pikes Peak Mountain and will treat areas between Crystal Reservoir and Pikes Peak Highway. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service will coordinate with Pikes Peak America’s Mountain to manage traffic for 1.5 miles on Pikes Peak Highway adjacent to Crystal Reservoir. 

For the first few hours during ignitions, the lane closest to the reservoir will be open to only one lane of traffic for about 1.5 miles from the Crystal Reservoir Visitor Center. Traffic is expected to be minimal due to the offseason, but there may be short traffic delays due to the temporary lane reduction. Lane reduction is needed to protect firefighters from oncoming traffic and to reduce the potential for collisions between project operations and the public. 

The Crystal Creek prescribed fire project is a continuation of thinning and mastication treatments that were implemented in 2015. This prescribed fire will reduce surface fuels, improve aspen regeneration and allow sunlight to stimulate development of grasses and small plants. This prescribed fire helps protect the Crystal Reservoir by lessening the impact of high severity wildfire in the vicinity. High-severity wildfires have the potential to impact reservoirs by filling them with sedimentation. After a high-severity wildfire impacts an area, increased erosion can cause sedimentation of adjacent drainages and reservoirs. 

Low-intensity prescribed fires are ignited by trained personnel to remove excess fuels, such as vegetation and dead wood, that would enable wildfires to burn hotter and longer. 

Smoke and flames may be visible for days to weeks following a prescribed fire. Heavy smoke may be in the air. Please do not call 911 since a prescribed fire is not an emergency. The area will be monitored and patrolled to ensure fires are completely out. 

Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, please go to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's wildfire smoke and health webpage. 

When prescribed fire days are scheduled, staff will send email notifications and post updates on Facebook and X. To sign up for email notifications, please fill out this online form. You may also call Pike Peak Ranger District at 719-636-1602 with any concerns or questions.

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