Press Releases
03/21/2024
DEEP to Conduct Prescribed Burns at Five Locations this Spring
Prescribed Burning is a Valuable Tool for Maintaining Habitat and Plant Diversity, While Also Benefitting Native Wildlife Species
(HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) plans to conduct prescribed burns at five locations this spring, weather and conditions permitting. The areas include Matianuck Natural Area Preserve (NAP) in Windsor, Suffield Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Suffield, Machimoodus State Park in East Haddam, Goodwin State Forest in Hampton, and Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown.
Prescribed (controlled) burning is a valuable tool for DEEP to maintain habitat and vegetative diversity. The exact dates depend on weather conditions.
DEEP plans and administers controlled burns annually for various purposes, including maintaining grassland and shrubland habitat for species declining in Connecticut due to loss of farmland and habitat. The five prescribed burns DEEP plans to conduct this year include:
Matianuck Natural Area Preserve: The prescribed burn planned for Matianuck NAP will occur on a 2.5-acre section of the 3.5-acre grassy sand dune within the NAP. The dunes at Matianuck represent some of the last remaining sand plain habitats in Connecticut. Prescribed burning is an effective way to sustain and enhance their value to wildlife, including the rare species found at the area. The burn also ensures these habitats persist as they would have naturally with periodic low-intensity fires. Public access to the preserve will be closed during the burn.
Suffield Wildlife Management Area: Suffield WMA is managed by the DEEP Wildlife Division mainly for wildlife conservation, focusing on grassland birds, as well as for wildlife-based recreation. Prescribed fire will occur within a 117-acre portion of the WMA, of which 49.5 acres are scheduled to be burned. The overall goal is to sustain and enhance sandplain grassland habitat, a habitat that many species rely on to survive and reproduce, including grassland nesting birds like the upland sandpiper, grasshopper sparrow, eastern meadowlark, and savannah sparrow. All of these grassland birds are on Connecticut’s Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species List. The long-term expectation within burned areas is an increase in native warm season grasses and a decrease in woody invasive plants. Suffield WMA will be closed to visitors during the days of fire operations.
Machimoodus State Park: The park features four distinct burn sites, encompassing a total of 8.5 acres. The purpose of this burn includes suppressing above-ground vegetative growth to restore a native, critically endangered, ecologically significant pitch pine-scrub oak ecosystem that would enhance important wildlife habitat, and to allow native warm season grasses to expand and enhance wildlife habitat. Public access to most of the park will be closed on the day of the burn.
Goodwin State Forest: Three old fields totaling eight acres will be burned to rejuvenate grassland habitat that is becoming infested with invasive plant species such as Asiatic bittersweet, Japanese barberry, Multiflora Rose, and Autumn Olive. These burns will provide Goodwin Conservation Center with a prescribed fire demonstration area for educational purpose as well as a wildfire suppression training opportunity for DEEP staff and local fire departments.
Pachaug State Forest: The purpose of this burn is to promote the resilience of six acres of rare and imperiled pitch pine – scrub oak sandplain habitat. The burn will interrupt the growth of white pine and other species in direct competition with pitch pine and other vegetation. The fire will also reduce competing understory vegetation and woody debris, creating favorable ground conditions for young pitch pine and scrub oak seedling and saplings.
Additional background and historical context: As farmland was abandoned in Connecticut, the land was either developed or reverted to forest – estimated at 90-130 years old – limiting the grassland habitat in the state. Prescribed fire is one tool that can effectively maintain grassland habitat, without having to use chemicals to control invading plants. Fire also returns nutrients to the soil and encourages the native grass species to flourish and return immediately and densely.
The prescribed burns are being led by the DEEP Forestry Division, with assistance by other fire-trained personnel in DEEP’s Wildlife, State Parks, and Support Services Divisions. The DEEP Forestry Division will employ a detailed operational and safety plan to conduct the burns, and will communicate with municipal leaders and fire departments for each of the towns. Areas will be closed on the days of the different burns and signage will be posted. The public may observe rising smoke as a result of the burns and weather conditions will be monitored to minimize impact in the local areas.
Historically, Indigenous populations utilized cultural landscape burning to favor the presence of nut producing trees such as oaks and hickories, invigorate berry producing plants, and maintain open grassy meadows for hunting, farming, and other food gathering activities. More information about Native American use of prescribed fire is available here: Native American Prescribed Burns (ct.gov).
Forest management is the application of scientific and technical principles by a certified professional in order to meet specific goals. It takes many forms, but usually involves periodic treatments or practices which are done to change forest conditions. Forest management uses a variety of practices, such as prescribed burns and timber harvesting, to provide a balance of important societal and ecological benefits. More information about forest management in Connecticut is available here.
- Twitter: @CTDEEPNews
- Facebook: DEEP on Facebook
Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110