For two years, the Common’s Ford Prairie Organization has
been working on scheduling a prescribed burn for the prairie. Due to unusually
hot and dry weather conditions during the summers of 2011 and 2012, it was not
possible to schedule a burn. However, the much cooler and wetter
(comparatively) weather conditions of August 2013 made it the ideal time to
conduct a prescribed burn.
Fire has always played an important role in the health of
maintenance of prairie ecology. Prairie grasses have evolved with fire, and
thus fire plays an important role in their life cycle. Fire also keeps woody
species at bay. Most of the biomass of grass lies underground, so they are not
killed by fire. Woody and deciduous species, such as mesquite and juniper, are
more vulnerable to fire. Thus, fire suppresses woody species allowing grasses
to flourish.
A summer burn was planned due to recent research that has
indicated that native species benefit more compared to exotic species by being
burned in summer versus winter. Native species have been shown to regenerate
faster during a summer burn compared to exotic species. A summer burn allows
natives to regenerate quickly, giving them the opportunity to out compete
exotic species.
On Friday August 9, 2013, a group of fire fighters from
various local precincts gathered to conduct the prescribed burn on the 40 acre
restored prairie at Common’s Ford. The day was hot with a slight breeze,
perfect weather for a controlled burn. Once the burn was started, it spread
quickly and was over in just after two hours.
Just hours after the burn, native bird species were already
flocking back to the prairie to look for food (which they apparently found in
abundance!) One week after the burn, native grasses were already shooting up.
Over the next year, volunteer biologists will continue to monitor the growth of
the prairie’s growth. Future burns will continue to be scheduled as they will
be necessary in order to maintain the health and diversity of the prairie.
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