Prescribed Burns at Chester Woods, Oxbow, and Root River Parks

The Olmsted County Parks Department is planning several prescribed burns at Chester Woods, Oxbow, and Root River Parks. Prescribed burns are a useful land management tool in the restoration and maintenance of parks and other natural areas. The use of controlled fire as a land management tool has many benefits, some of which are:

• NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL
• ELIMINATION AND/OR SETBACK OF NON-NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS
• REPLENISHMENT OF VALUABLE SOIL NUTRIENTS
• ENHANCEMENT OF WILDLIFE HABITAT
• IMPROVED GROWING CONDITIONS FOR ENDANGERED AND RARE NATIVE PLANTS

Before an area is burned, countless hours are spent in the planning and preparation of the event.  Factors that are included in the planning are equipment needs, staff manpower, site preparation, filing for the appropriate permits, and parameters regarding ideal weather conditions.  A prescribed burn is tightly regulated and controlled.

While weather conditions make it impossible to determine the exact time that these burns will occur, the optimum conditions usually begin mid-April for a spring burn and most likely go into May.

Media Contact: Sue Struckmann | 507-328-7070 | pwservice@olmstedcounty.gov