Returning birds and melting snow are sure signs of spring in the Midwest. Natural resource professionals are also preparing for another spring ritual, the start of the prescribed fire season. From early April to mid June, staff at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s St. Croix Wetland Management District in New Richmond, Wis., will be mobilizing crews of firefighters and equipment for scheduled burns at 20 Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA) in St. Croix, Polk and Dunn Counties.
Each year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses prescribed fire to improve wildlife habitat on more than 400,000 acres of the National Wildlife Refuge System including the Waterfowl Production Areas in St. Croix, Polk and Dunn Counties.
This year, the St. Croix Wetland Management District has prescribed fires planned at the following WPAs:
7WPA Name and (Township)
Hanten (Stanton) Rock Creek (Rock Creek) Clear Lake (Clear Lake)
Alden (Alden) Amschler (Stanton) Ten Mile (Richmond)
Betterly (Erin Prairie) Bierbrauer (Stanton) Kostka (Cylon)
Bass Lake (Somerset ) Suckett (Alden) Star Prairie (Stanton)
Prairie Flats S. (Star Prairie) Houghdahl N. (Black Brook) Deer Park (Cylon)
Flaters (Alden) Houghdahl S. (Alden)
Kerber (Warren) Three Lakes (Warren) Iron Creek (Red Cedar)
Prescribed burns rejuvenate the prairie by consuming accumulated dead vegetation, stimulating new growth and controlling non-native plants. In turn, wildlife enjoy higher quality habitat conditions for nesting, protection and a more abundant food supply. In addition, prescribed burns help protect our neighbors if a wildfire should occur. Periodic controlled burns reduce fuel loads, lowering the threat to private land in the event of wildfire.
All of our fires are carefully planned and we take great effort to cause as little inconvenience to local residents as possible. We prefer to burn when the prevailing winds carry smoke away from homes and busy roads, but this becomes more difficult as more homes are built adjacent to your public wildlife areas. Despite our best efforts, smoke occasionally crosses a road. We are prepared with road signs and trained personnel to provide for public safety if smoke impacts a road.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call the St. Croix Wetland Management District Office at (715) 246-7784.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov.
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