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FIRE |
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 Fire,
whether set by humans or caused by lightning, has been a part of prairie
ecosystems for thousands of years. Grassland species of the northern
great plains evolved under periodic disturbance and defoliation from
buffalo and fire. This periodic disturbance kept the grasslands healthy
for thousands of years and is needed to keep them healthy today. It
has been one way that the prairie ecosystem has been continually maintained
and restored. The Refuge is located in the mixed-grass ecosystem, a
geographical area which has been subjected to the effects of fire for
centuries. Fire frequency on the prairie grasslands ranges from 5-10
years to 10-20 years. Fire provides one or more of the following benefits: |
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 • removes
dead vegetation• releases nutrients to enrich the soil • reduces invader plants • encourages native species • creates habitats attractive to wildlife |
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| Grasslands
are burned primarily to alter vegetation and increase biological productivity
and diversity or to accomplish specific goals. The goals may be broad
(prairie restoration and maintenance) or narrow (management for endangered
or rare species or reduction of woody plants).
Where native prairie is not a major component of the grassland, nearly all prescribed fires are used to reduce old plant growth, to control weeds, or to improve height and density of plants. This results in improved nesting cover for waterfowl, and some migratory and resident bird species. Where native prairie is a major part of a grassland, the primary reasons for burning are to restore, improve, or enhance prairie habitat for wildlife. Occasionally, fire is used for very specific reasons such as reduction of Kentucky bluegrass or other undesirable, exotic cool season grasses, control of undesirable shrubs or trees, or to increase the number of plant species.  Managing
natural areas is one of the primary objectives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. The maintenance of ecosystems and their dynamic processes helps
ensure a functional natural environment. Fire constitutes one of the
greatest natural influences on the ecosystem. Fire may have a severe
short term effect while it yields long term positive effects. Fire may
expose the soil, kill or reduce vigor in some plants, invigorate some
grass plants and woody shrubs, and quickly cycle mineral nutrients from
organic to inorganic states by converting surface mulch, plant litter,
and standing growth to ash which is absorbed into the soil and made available
for plant uptake. |
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| Research within the past few decades has shown that fire has been an important natural component of many grassland communities. Therefore, prescribed burning was reintroduced to the prairie. Prescribed burning uses fire within planned parameters as to season, time of day, fuel and soil moisture, wind speed direction, stage of growth, plant species, and amount of litter, to achieve the desired beneficial impacts on the grassland, while minimizing the most detrimental impacts. | |||||
Although fire has long been a management tool at Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), recent changes have resulted in a growing Fire Management Program at the Refuge. The Long Lake Complex received approval and funding for a permanent Fire Program Technician and seasonal Range Technicians in 2001. Fire management at Long Lake NWR Complex is joined under the Arrowwood Fire District, including Arrowwood NWR, Chase Lake WMD. and Valley City WMD. |
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| Long Lake has a memorandum of understanding with three local Fire Protection Districts (FPD), Sterling FPD, Bismarck rural FPD, and Tuttle FPD. | |||||
| In 2002 the Refuge assisted in eight wildfires for a total of 3,227 acres burned. The Refuge completed 15 units for 2,211 acres of prescribed burns and seven acres in two wildfires on the Wetland Management District | |||||
| Prescribed
fire is an important management tools used to restore and improve grassland
condition, vigor and maintain species diversity.
The Fish and Wildlife Service maintains a prescribed fire web site at http://www.fws.gov/ - under portal links click on fire. |
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Please direct questions and comments to: Long
Lake National Wildlife Refuge |
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