Press Releases
04/02/2025
DEEP to Conduct Prescribed Burns at Six Locations This Spring
Prescribed Burning Is a Valuable Tool for Maintaining Habitat and Plant Diversity, While Also Benefiting Native Wildlife Species
(HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) plans to conduct prescribed (controlled) burns at six locations this spring, weather and conditions permitting. The areas include Quinebaug River Wildlife Management Area in Plainfield, Suffield Wildlife Management Area in Suffield, Belding Wildlife Management Area in Vernon, Goodwin State Forest in Hampton, Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown, and Mansfield Hollow State Park in Mansfield.
Prescribed burns are an important land management practice, and DEEP plans and administers controlled burns annually for various purposes. Controlled burning is a valuable tool for maintaining healthy habitats and diverse vegetation. For example, it helps maintain grassland and shrubland habitat for species that are declining in Connecticut due to a loss of farmland and early successional habitat, helps maintain pitch pine sand plain forest (one of the state's most imperiled ecosystems), and can assist with forestry objectives such as oak regeneration. Controlled burns also reduce available fire fuels, thus reducing risk of damage should an uncontrolled wildfire occur.
The prescribed burns DEEP plans to conduct this year (exact dates dependent on weather and conditions) include:
James L. Goodwin State Forest, Hampton (~10 acres)
Three old fields will be burned to rejuvenate grassland habitats that are becoming infested with invasive plants such as Asiatic bittersweet, Japanese barberry, multiflora rose, and autumn olive. These burns will provide the Goodwin Conservation Center with a prescribed fire demonstration area for educational purposes and also will provide a wildfire suppression training opportunity for DEEP staff and local fire department members.
Pachaug State Forest, Pratt Road, Voluntown (~6 acres)
This burn aims to promote the resilience of 6 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 rare vegetation. The fire also will reduce competing understory vegetation and woody debris creating favorable conditions for pitch pine and scrub oak seedlings and saplings.
Pachaug State Forest (Shetucket Barren), Voluntown (~20 acres)
The goal of this project is to manage vegetation using prescribed fire within a 19.5-acre portion of Pachaug State Forest, the Wickaboxet Block, a state-owned natural area. The overall goal is to sustain and enhance shrubland and open woodland habitats that support Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
Quinebaug River Wildlife Management Area, Plainfield (~10 acres)
This project aims to manage vegetation using prescribed fire within a 10-acre portion of Quinebaug River Wildlife Management Area, a state-owned natural area managed for wildlife conservation and wildlife-based recreation. The overall goal is to sustain and enhance sandplain grassland and pitch pine barren habitat, underrepresented natural communities that support many Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
Suffield Wildlife Management Area, Suffield (~70 acres)
The aim of this project is to manage vegetation using prescribed fire within the Suffield Wildlife Management Area, a state-owned natural area managed for wildlife conservation and wildlife-based recreation. The overall goal is to sustain and enhance sandplain grassland habitat to support grassland nesting birds like the upland sandpiper, grasshopper sparrow, eastern meadowlark, and savannah sparrow. These grassland birds are on Connecticut's Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species List.
Mansfield Hollow State Park, Mansfield, and Belding Wildlife Management Area, Vernon (~1 acre)
The purpose of these burns is to sustain and enhance grassland habitat for the benefit of plants and wildlife.
Additional background and historical context: Connecticut consists mainly of older forests estimated to be 90-130 years old. Grassland habitat is limited in our state, as most abandoned farmland has either been developed or allowed to revert to forest. Prescribed fire is one tool that can effectively maintain grassland habitat. Fire also returns nutrients to the soil, encouraging native grass species to flourish.
The prescribed burns are being led by the DEEP Forestry Division with assistance from other fire-trained personnel in DEEP’s Wildlife, State Parks, and Support Services Divisions. DEEP Forestry Division personnel will employ a detailed burn plan to ensure effectiveness and safety. Plans have been communicated to corresponding municipal leaders and fire departments. Areas will be closed on the days of the burns, and signage will be posted. The public may observe smoke because of the burns. Weather conditions will be monitored and a Go/No Go evaluation will be conducted for each burn on the day of ignition.
Historically, indigenous populations utilized 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 certified professionals in order to meet specific goals. 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
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Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110