This past Saturday, 19 July, a small truck of some sort, P/U possibly, pulled off I-84E, Milemarker 65, just before the ITD Weigh Station entrance, a bit after Noon, likely overheated, caught fire (totalled) and started a grass fire (Milemarker 65 Fire, BLM designation) which later grew to encompass some 9000+/- acres by evening, windy conditions pushed the fire to the SE. Fire was kept to the South side of the Interstate except for a small part of the median in the area of the Weigh Station.

The fire stretched from the afore-mentioned Milemarker 65 clear along the Interstate to Indian Ck. Reservoir taking out the entire West end up to the road at the base of the dam/berm as well as a portion of the North end down to the heavy greenery just above the current waterline, ending at the culvert where Indian Ck. proper enters the reservoir. Most everything else within the confines of the reservoir is all okay, the Westside outside of the dam is now barren of vegetation, the canyon… everything. The Southside between the dam, entry road and the private shooting range is also okay. Stage Stop truck stop also not touched. I don’t know the extent of any damage down Orchard Access Rd. or further down Indian Ck.

Well, what does this have to do with birds. This fire has essentially left a small green spot on the edge of all this blackness that with the upcoming Fall migration might possibly provide some very interesting birding. None of the trees/willows were touched. Only problem is that the water surface area is about 75-90% currently covered with smartweed/knotweed and evaporation will decrease water level.

One of my favorite places, will keep an closer eye on as migration nears.

CGB. RL

An aside. There is to be a new subdivision (Mayfield Springs or some-such name) going in catty-corner across I-84 from the Stage Stop over the next few years, some 14/1500 homes. The amount of water drawn from wells will pretty much spell the end of Indian Ck. Reservoir as we have known it.