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RE: burning wetland prairie?

At our site in eastern Missouri, we have two thriving populations of
Pedicularis lanceolata. These are in low areas of prairie plantings that are
saturated through the cooler months and remain moist through the summer.
These areas burn through just fine during prescribed burns of the
surrounding uplands. Being plantings, however, they may differ
hydrologically, and especially in terms of their resident biological
diversity, from your remnant site, Linda.

Since your site is apparently a remnant, you might want to consider the
alternative of haying, or perhaps even better, dormant season mowing (early
fall, when it is driest) until you have had it surveyed for prairie or
wetland specialist Lepidoptera, planthoppers, leaf beetles, etc. If there
are no rare butterflies, moths or other fire-sensitive invertebrates, then
you can burn with a clearer conscience. Otherwise, burning, especially if
the whole site is burned all at once, may doom these critters to extinction
from your location.

Just another thing to consider, and one all too often forgotten by
vegetation managers of a botanical, forestry or wildlife background.

James C. Trager, Ph. D.
Restoration Biologist 
Shaw Nature Reserve
P.O. Box 38
Interstate 44 and US 100
Gray Summit MO 63039 USA
Tel. 636-451-3512 ext. 6002
Fax. 636-451-5583


-----Original Message-----
From: Linda Mann [l*@volfirst.net]
Sent: Saturday, March 05, 2005 6:56 AM
To: prairie@hort.net
Subject: Re: burning wetland prairie?


I have some experience with burning prairie here.  In my area, the
Tennessee Division of Forestry will conduct a controlled burn on private
land, charging a nominal fee per acre.  For the past several years, they
have been helping me burn about 3 acres of mostly well-drained
bottomland  that contains a relict population of Indian grass.  This
year, they decided I could do it without them - the field is surrounded
by water on all sides except for a small area adjacent to closely grazed
cool season grass.

We've been burning in March, getting the woody stuff and blackberries
under control.  I've been having it cut for hay once in July, trying to
"harvest" some of the nutrients to help knock back the remaining
fescue.  Plans are to burn and harvest one more season, then leave it
for several years.  About 1/3 of the field is now a dense stand of
Indian grass, the rest is mostly forbs, mostly native composites, with
scattered clumps of Indian and other native grasses, plus some remaining
fescue.

I talked to the Regional Forester before posting my question.  He says
they will help me burn the site, even if we need to do it during the
time of year (i.e., dry late summer weather) when they normally avoid
burning.

So, my question is really more about how does one go about burning a
field that has standing water a good bit of the year?  The swamp
lousewort wetland is adjacent to the bottomland we've been burning, on
the other side of a small limestone fed spring fed stream.  The site is
entirely saturated during winter, with slight lateral flow of water
towards the stream.  In summer, in a dry year, it is completely dry.  In
wet years, there is standing water in a few places year round.

I'm planning to either stem inject or cut and paint stumps with Roundup,
but at the rate I seem to get things done, it may take a decade or so to
completely clear the site.

Carl - thanks for the tip about high temperatures and Roundup.  What
temperature do you consider too high?

I first contacted the state Heritage program about the site around 30
yrs ago, and intermittently since then.  Nobody has come to look at it
yet - they are as slow as I am. <g> Much higher priority on other areas
of concern in the state.  Now that I'm getting serious about doing some
management, I will try again.  I also plan to try again to get some
management help through our local NRCS office.

Don & Carl, you both mentioned having Swamp Lousewort that you manage.
Do your sites have standing water most of the year?  What season (s) do
you burn?

Following the burns in the Indian grass bottomland, I've noticed a few
plants invading the edges of that field.  So know that it tolerates the
annual burning so far - not as sure about the annual hay harvest.

Thanks for your help.

Linda Mann
Roane County
Tennessee

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