Prescribed Burn at Prairie Moraine County Park Planned for Monday April 3, 2017, Other Locations to Follow

March 31, 2017
Darren Marsh, Parks Director (608) 224-3730 Erika Hotchkiss, Marketing and Outreach Coordinator (608) 212-6358
Land & Water Resources

A prescribed burn is planned for Monday April 3, 2017 at Prairie Moraine County Park. Prairie Moraine is a popular destination for both hikers on the National Ice Age Scenic Trail and for dog walkers using the expansive dog park area located on CTH PB south of the City of Verona.  The park will be closed for public use on the day of the burn. Patrons should plan to an use alternative site on that day.

 

Sections of the property are burned annually to help maintain the native plant community and the oak savannah.  The burn schedule is weather-dependent and the actual date will depend on the conditions of the field. Dane County Parks Director Darren Marsh would like patrons to be aware of the blackened ash and soot that will remain from the burned grasses. “This soot will disappear with the first rain and the site will quickly green up again with lush vegetation,” stated Marsh. He went on to explain, “Fire is an important tool used to help control invasive plants and to reduce the risk of wildfires. Controlled burns are used by many agencies to manage natural resource sites”.

 

The public should be aware that smoke may be seen during the burns and if viewing a fire, do so from afar to allow agencies plenty of room to safely mange the burn.

 

Dane County Parks is currently planning for other prescribed burns throughout the county. For more information, call the Dane County Parks Department at (608) 224-3730.                        

 

For information on prescribed fires, please visit: The Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council at http://prescribedfire.org/

 

           

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