Controlled burn planned for Chikaming Township Park & Preserve

The prairie at Chikaming Township Park and Preserve on Warren Woods Road will be burned this spring by licensed burn professionals supported by the Chikaming Township Fire Department. The controlled burn will take place only when there are suitable weather conditions – wind speed and direction, relative humidity and fuel dryness are a few of the factors included in the burn plan.

According to the Chikaming Township Park Board, fire is particularly important to native grasslands and prairies, as it promotes plant growth and keeps down competition from trees and weeds and recycles nutrients in the soil. It also improves habitat for prairie birds, mammals and butterflies. The prairie plants survive fire because they are dormant when fires usually occur in spring, and their growth cells are just below the earth’s surface, protected from the fire’s heat. Shortly after a spring fire, green shoots begin covering the charred ground. Historically, prairie fires were started by lightening or by Native Americans trying to improve hunting conditions.

This reconstructed prairie was begun in 2003 with the help of Chikaming Open Lands, who provided the seed, and Brian Neiman of Pheasants Forever. It is comprised of tall prairie grasses and native wildflowers. Restoration is a slow process. This field was farmed for many years, so first it was mowed, then disked and then planted with seeds from remnant or recreated prairies at about the same latitude. Prairies do not need herbicides, insecticides or fertilizers. The dense prairie vegetation will discourage invading weeds and the wildflowers will provide food for beneficial insects, thus aiding in controlling pest insect populations.