Prescribed Burn at Coldwater Spring 2021

The National Park Service at Mississippi National River and Recreation Area intends to conduct a prescribed fire at Coldwater Spring on April 24 (Saturday), provided the fuel and weather conditions are within approved levels. Nineteen acres are included in this year’s burn unit(s) and consist of lands that are owned and managed by NPS and Veterans Administration.

Prescribed fire is one process that land managers utilize to restore and maintain natural landscapes. Benefits to the landscape include stimulating native grasses and herbs common to oak savannas and prairies; increase native plant species diversity; suppress non-native grasses and forbs; and reduce the density of brush within savannas. Fire is often seen as destructive, and it can be under the wrong circumstances. Prescribed fires can benefit ecosystems if conducted under the right conditions. 

One parameter needed for the weather requirements is the wind speed and direction. To minimize smoke impacts to nearby MSP airport, winds will need to be from the west, southwest or south. 

The last prescribed burned at Coldwater Spring was in the spring of 2018 when 13 acres burned. The recommended burn cycle for prairie – savanna habitat type is 3-5 years. 

There will be limited road and area closures on the day(s) of the burn, and visitors should anticipate that smoke may impact their activities in the area. The duration of the fires is anticipated to last no more than one day for ignition and 1-2 days for monitoring and patrol.