See Smoke Over Oakdale Skies? Could Be a Controlled Burn

Prairie burns are set to take place at the Lake Elmo Park Reserve between Aug. 12-22.

The Washington County Parks Division burns generally take one to four hours to complete and will occur on a weekday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Conducted with local fire departments and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the prairie burns will only occur when weather conditions are right and crews will be on hand until the fire is extinguished.

“Prairies are durable and complex grassland communities that provide food and cover for wildlife, protect against soil erosion, display beautiful colors throughout the year, and add character to the park landscape,” reads part of a release from Washington County. “Once established, prairies are relatively carefree. Prairies are primarily managed through controlled burns. Fire controls the invasion of undesirable plants by stimulating those plants that are adapted to fire, while simultaneously killing off the woody and weedy plants that would otherwise take over the site. By initiating a controlled burn, a natural process is being reintroduced to the landscape.”

For more information contact the Washington County Parks Division at 651-430-4328.