The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will be conducting prescribed burns this spring on wildlife management areas managed by the Iowa DNR’s Black Hawk Wildlife Unit in Sac, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Crawford and Ida counties.
Areas scheduled for burns are Black Hawk Marsh Complex, Burrows Pond Complex, Tomahawk Marsh, Sac City Wetland Complex, Whitehorse and Kiowa Marsh Complex in Sac County; Little Storm Lake, Pheasant Hills, Leo Grau in Buena Vista County; Towhead Lake, South Twin Lake in Calhoun County; Schraders in Crawford County; and Washta Access in Ida County.
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. The DNR burns most areas on about a five year rotation, with some getting burned less or more frequently depending on habitat response.
Ground nesting birds such as pheasants, mallards, bobolinks, dickscissels and others benefit from habitat improved with periodic prescribed fire. Prescribed burns typically begin mid to late morning and are completed by late afternoon or early evening between late March and early May. Burns will be conducted on a day that meets the objectives and weather conditions defined in the burn plan.
Contact DNR wildlife technician Jeff Feisel at 712-330-8414 or DNR wildlife technician Dusten Paulus at 712-330-5685 with any questions or concerns.