Archived News Release: February 10, 2016 - City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation (NAP) will be conducting controlled ecological burns in local natural areas between Feb. 29 and May 27. Burns are only conducted on weekdays between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., weather permitting. On the day of a controlled burn, signs will be posted around the park, and staff will be available onsite for questions. The fire will be under control at all times.
A Q & A and public meeting on controlled burns will be held Tuesday, Feb. 23, 7–8:30 p.m., at the Natural Area Preservation office, 3875 East Huron River Drive. If you are unable to attend and would like to learn more, contact NAP at 734.794.6627, email [email protected], or visit www.a2gov.org/NAPburn.
All persons are encouraged to participate in public meetings. Accommodations, including sign language interpreters, may be arranged by contacting the city clerk's office at 734.794.6140; via email to: [email protected]; or by written request addressed and mailed or delivered to: City Clerk's Office, 301 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Requests need to be received at least two business days in advance of the meeting.
Where will we burn?
During the spring 2016 season, NAP has permits to burn at the following city-owned sites: Argo Nature Area, Bandemer Park, Barton Nature Area, Belize Park rain garden, Bird Hills Nature Area, Bluffs Nature Area, Briarcliff rain garden, Buhr Park wet meadows, Cedar Bend Nature Area, Dolph Nature Area, Glacier Highlands Park rain garden, Huron Hills Golf Course, Hunt Park rain garden, Kuebler Langford Nature Area, Marshall Nature Area, Miller Nature Area, Oakridge Nature Area, Olson Park, Ruthven Nature Area, Scarlett Mitchell Nature Area, South Pond Nature Area, Sugarbush Park and West Park.
Why burn?
Our native Ann Arbor ecosystems are fire-dependent. Until settlers began suppressing fires in the early 1700s, fire enriched the soil and removed dead thatch, allowing diverse native plant and animal communities to thrive. Continued fire suppression has allowed fire-intolerant, non-native plant species to out-compete the native, fire-adapted plants. By reintroducing fire in our parks, we are reinstating an essential ecosystem process.
What is involved in conducting burns?
NAP staff evaluates each site and develops a burn plan that provides information on the specific ecological objectives of the burn, preferred weather conditions to minimize smoke, ignition pattern, location of burn breaks to safely contain the fire, equipment, contingency plans and emergency phone numbers. City and township fire marshals review the plans before issuing the necessary permits. NAP then waits until weather conditions are within the range specified in the burn plan before proceeding.
How can you get more information?
Because burns are weather-dependent, NAP is unable to schedule them in advance for specific days. If you would like to be called on the day of a burn near you, please call NAP and leave name, daytime phone number and street address. We also post day-of-burn information on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/a2NAP and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ann.arbor.nap.
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