The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be conducting prescribed burns this spring on wildlife management areas managed by the Iowa DNR’s Prairie Lakes – Ingham Unit in Emmet, Kossuth and Palo Alto counties.
Areas scheduled for prescribed burns are Anderson Prairie, Birge Lake, Burr Oak Lake, Eagle Lake, East Swan Lake, Ingham-High Wetland Complex, Iowa Lake, Iowa Lake Marsh, Twelve Mile Lake, West Swan Lake and 4 Mile Lake in Emmet County; Seneca Access, in Kossuth County; and West Fork Wildlife Area, in Palo Alto County.
The DNR will also be assisting Emmet County Conservation to apply prescribed fire at the Wolden Recreation Area, near the Ingham-High Wetland Complex.
Prescribed burns are used to improve wildlife habitat, control invasive plant species, restore and maintain native plant communities and reduce wildfire potential and vary in size from a few acres to several hundred acres. Burn units are typically on a 4-5 year rotation.
Prescribed burns typically begin mid to late morning and are completed by late afternoon or early evening between mid-March and mid-May. Burns will be conducted on a day that meets the objectives and weather conditions defined in the burn plan. Any prescribed burns that are not able to be completed this spring will be considered for the burn schedule next fall.
Contact Iowa DNR wildlife biologist Lucas Straw at 712-362-1651 with any questions or concerns.