Spring 2017 Prescribed Burns Coming to a Forest Preserve Near You
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And this time of year, “where there’s fire” is often at a forest preserve in Kane County.
With the onset of warmer weather, conditions are once again right for the Forest Preserve District of Kane County to perform prescribed burns in various natural areas.
Each spring and fall, the Forest Preserve District conducts prescribed burns across prairies, woodlands and wetlands in an effort to improve or maintain the ecological health of a site.
These carefully controlled burns release nutrients from burned plant materials, encourage seed growth, and open the woodland floor to sunlight so native wildflowers and plants can flourish. Prescribed burns also reduce the abundance of non-native brush such as buckthorn.
Grassland/wetland sites targeted for this burn season include portions of the following (in order of priority):
Dick Young Forest Preserve in Batavia- Forested Fen Forest Preserve in Elgin
- Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve in Burlington
- LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles
- Hoscheit Woods Forest Preserve in St. Charles
- Freeman Kame Forest Preserve in Gilberts
- Mill Creek Forest Preserve in Batavia
- Big Rock Forest Preserve in Big Rock
- Burnidge Forest Preserve in Elgin
- Aurora West Forest Preserve in Aurora
- Fitchie Creek Forest Preserve in Elgin
- Meissner-Corron Forest Preserve in St. Charles
- Bliss Woods Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove
- Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve in St. Charles
- Culver Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove
- Hannaford Woods Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove
- Fox River Shores Forest Preserve in Carpentersville
- Elburn Forest Preserve in Elburn
- Bolcum Road Wetlands Forest Preserve in St. Charles
- Blackberry Maples Forest Preserve in Elburn
- Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve in South Elgin
- Lake Run Forest Preserve in Aurora
- Otter Creek Forest Preserve in Elgin
- Grunwald Farms Forest Preserve in Elburn
- Hampshire Forest Preserve in Hampshire
- Schweitzer Woods Forest Preserve in West Dundee
Woodland sites targeted for this burn season include portions of the following (in order of priority):
- Pingree Grove Forest Preserve in Pingree Grove
- Lone Grove Forest Preserve in Maple Park
- Blackberry Maples Forest Preserve in Elburn
- Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls in Gilberts
- Freeman Kame Forest Preserve in Gilberts
- Brunner Family Forest Preserve in Dundee
- Campton Forest Preserve in St. Charles
- Raceway Woods Forest Preserve in Carpentersville
- Burnidge Forest Preserve in Elgin
- Hannaford Woods Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove
- Big Rock Forest Preserve in Big Rock
- Tyler Creek Forest Preserve in Elgin
- Helm Woods Forest Preserve in Barrington
Before a controlled burn, trained staff survey the preserve and create a detailed plan of action. They then carefully monitor the weather and wait until conditions are right, to minimize the chance of smoke blowing toward homes and roads. Staff also notify residents via mail, so that those with health concerns can avoid the smoke. Information is also posted on the district website at www.kaneforest.com and on social media.
For more information on prescribed burns, contact the Forest Preserve District of Kane County at 630-232-5980.
SOURCE: Kane County Forest Preserve District news release
