USDA Forest Service to conduct prescribed burning over next two weeks at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

Prescribed burning on the USDA Forest Service - Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie - South Patrol Road Prairie Photo by Vance Hazelton

The USDA Forest Service will be conducting prescribed burning over the next two weeks in parts of the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. The South Henslow area south of Explosives Road is one of the areas marked for prescribed burning.
USDA Forest Service staff will initiate prescribed fire operations as weather patterns shift to favorable, modest temperatures and moderate humidity that is conducive to burning. Wind speed and direction, temperature, relative humidity and measurable moisture in vegetation are all taken into consideration.
At Midewin, since 1996, volunteers and staff have been working with over 275 native Illinois prairie plants in an effort to restore and enhance natural areas. Approximately 3,000 acres of land are actively undergoing restoration or enhancement, and several tools are necessary to attaining restoration goals. Some of the restoration tools include invasive species control through judicious herbicide application; field mowing; hand-pulling invasive plants; brush removal and use of prescribed fire. Use of prescribed fire is among the most effective and necessary pieces of the restoration process.
Prescribed fire reduces hazardous fuels; minimizes the spread of plant and animal disease; removes invasive species that threaten species that are native to an ecosystem; provides forage for animals; improves habitat for threatened and endangered species; recycles nutrients back to the soil; and promotes the growth of forbes, tallgrasses, wildflowers and other plants.
Although careful planning and preparation for the use of prescribed fire takes place, smoke is a natural by-product of fire, and some amounts are unavoidable.
Over the next two weeks, the public may see smoke or smell fire in various areas surrounding Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie as a result of prescribed fire activities associated with our prairie restoration program.
As available, prescribed fire updates and information will be posted online on the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/midewin.