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The Forest Service has announced their plans for prescribed burns in the Ottawa and Hiawatha national forests. Prescribed burns will begin in late April, and can continue into the fall. The burn schedule for 2022 is weather and fuel dependent. Five locations will be burned in the Ottawa national forest, totaling 78 acres. Two of the burns will be near Kenton, and the other three near Watersmeet. Prescribed burning provides benefits to our natural resources as well as reducing hazardous fuels on our National Forest.
The Forest Service’s goals in burning the wildlife openings are: Provide improved breeding and foraging habitat for early-successional and cavity dependent species. Set back vegetative succession and maintain wildlife openings. Maintain burn units as part of a system of fuel breaks (including safety zones, escape routes, staging areas and control lines). Remove or reduce the impact of non-native invasive species. Reduce the risk of wildfires by reducing hazardous fuels. Train personnel in the use of wildland fire in a safe and efficient manner.
To see where prescribed burn locations are in the Ottawa and Hiawatha National Forests go here.
