Prescribed burning at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, March 2023

 Press release from Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie: 

"WILMINGTON, Ill. (March 3, 2023) – The USDA Forest Service will be conducting prescribed burning starting next week in parts of the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Preparations are being made to conduct burning as weather permits. You might see smoke due to the controlled burning. 

Prescribed burning on the USDA Forest Service - Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Photo by Joseph Parr / USDA Forest Service.


USDA Forest Service staff will initiate prescribed fire operations as weather patterns shift to favorable, modest temperatures and moderate humidity that is conducive to burning. Wind speed and direction, temperature, relative humidity, and measurable moisture in vegetation are taken into consideration. Burning will be conducted in wide array of areas across Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. 

Since 1996, volunteers and staff have been working with over 275 native Illinois prairie plants to restore and enhance natural areas. Approximately 3,000 acres of land are actively undergoing restoration or enhancement, and several tools are necessary to attaining restoration goals. Some of the restoration tools include invasive species control through judicious herbicide application; field mowing; hand-pulling invasive plants; brush removal and use of prescribed fire. Use of prescribed fire is among the most effective and necessary pieces of the restoration process. 

Prescribed fire provides the following benefits:

•   Reduces hazardous fuels;

•   Minimizes the spread of plant and animal disease;

•   Removes invasive species that threaten species that are native to an ecosystem;

•   Provides forage for animals;

•   Improves habitat for threatened and endangered species; and

•   Recycles nutrients back to the soil; and promotes the growth of forbs, tallgrasses, wildflowers, and other plants."

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