Join our Email List!
Blog

Blog: The Natural Realm

Topics

 

 

Dates

 

 

Click for a list of blog posts

A controlled burn underway at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve

Photo essay: A controlled burn at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve

January 9, 2024  |  Topics: Places, Stories

Introduction by Ryan Wallin

Photography by Eddee Daniel

Although late in the season, it turned out to be a good day for a burn!

Forest Beach Migratory Preserve is one of over 30 nature preserves that Ozaukee Washington Land Trust (OWLT) owns and manages. Altogether OWLT protects over 7,000 acres in the Milwaukee River, Menomonee River, and Great Lakes watersheds. For the health of the land several maintenance techniques are essential; one of these is prescribed fires, also known as controlled burns.

Why burn?

OWLT uses prescribed fire to maintain grassland habitats and limit natural succession. Using fire in grassland and prairie habitats manages woody species, which helps to promote the area as a grassland. While woody growth in these areas is often from invasive species, controlling native woody species is also necessary to maintain the health of grassland and prairies.

Controlled burning promotes ecological diversity by removing previous years’ growth (or duff), and in turn allowing sunlight to hit the soil and germinate seeds in wait. This process also allows some established species to thrive instead of fighting for space from their neighbors. These grasslands fully recover after burning and are often healthier in just one growing season.

OWLT breaks grassland habitats up into smaller burn units to provide some refuge close by for small mammals, birds, and insects—this is especially important on habitat land within the Lake Michigan flyway, like Forest Beach Migratory Preserve. The controlled burn proceeds at a pace that allows these creatures time to react. Scurrying critters can often be seen retreating beyond the firebreaks to new havens ahead of the approaching fire.

Timing prescribed fires to meet your objectives and maintain control is a practice in patience. Sometimes that means looking outside of traditional seasonal windows to get the job done. It was late fall/early winter before conditions aligned with our objectives for this burn unit on the preserve, resulting in a nice bonfire in December!

The area burned on this occasion represents one of at least five burn units at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve that we rotate through on a three-year cycle.

The burn crew is made up of OWLT staffers and trained volunteers.
The burn crew is made up of OWLT staffers and trained volunteers.
The crew removes loose vegetation from a mowed fire break to isolate the burn unit and help control the burn.
The crew removes loose vegetation from a mowed fire break to isolate the burn unit and help control the burn.
Igniting the fire, which is done from the downwind end of the burn unit in order to prevent wind from accelerating the burn.
Igniting the fire, which is done from the downwind end of the burn unit in order to prevent wind from accelerating the burn.
An aerial view showing the burn unit in proximity to other sections of the preserve, as well as neighboring farmland and residential properties.
An aerial view showing the burn unit in proximity to other sections of the preserve, as well as neighboring farmland and residential properties.
The famous Forest Beach Migratory Preserve Hawk Watch Tower remains safely outside the fire break.
The famous Forest Beach Migratory Preserve Hawk Watch Tower remains safely outside the fire break.
Ryan Wallin uses a heavy duty water sprayer to help separate one burn unit from another.
Ryan Wallin uses a heavy duty water sprayer to help separate one burn unit from another.
Mobile water sprayers are used to help maintain the fire line.
Mobile water sprayers are used to help maintain the fire line.
Special tamping tools are used to tamp down flare ups along the firebreak.
Special tamping tools are used to tamp down flare ups along the firebreak and elsewhere.
The second burn unit of the day begins.
The second burn unit of the day begins.
Water spraying is used to extinguish remaining embers at the edge of the burn unit once the fire has moved on.
Crew members maintain vigilance over each burn unit throughout the burn.

Related stories (The Natural Realm) and photo albums (Flickr):

Story: Emphasizing the “Control” in Controlled Burn at Pringle Nature Center

Story: Fellenz Woods Preserve: A controlled burn

Album: Burning Three Bridges Park

Story: Burning Washington Park

Album: Burning Bong

Story: An Earth Day Success Story: MMSD’s Greenseams® Program Rejuvenates a Restored Prairie

For more information about Forest Beach Migratory Preserve go to our Find-a-Park page.

Ryan Wallin is Stewardship Director of Ozaukee Washington Land Trust. Eddee Daniel is a board member of Preserve Our Parks. Ozaukee Washington Land Trust is a project partner of A Wealth of Nature.

One thought on "Photo essay: A controlled burn at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve"

  1. Marjie Tomter says:
    January 18, 2024 at 9:39 am

    I loved these photos and the commentary. Great work as. always.

Comments are closed.