The La Crosse Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department announced that controlled burns in the Blufflands are rescheduled for May 16.
The prairies and properties below may be closed for extended periods of time when weather conditions are favorable to conduct the controlled burns. The department asks that people abide by barricades and closure notices for your safety and the safety of contractors.
- Mathy Tract — Pollinator Prairie (33.5 acres), located at the end of County Road FA
- Upper Hixon Forest — Thompson Pollinator Prairie (32 acres), located on County Road FA behind the National Weather Station
Note that smoke may be visible from time to time. All precautions have been taken for the safety of the surrounding properties, the department said. Appropriate authorities have been notified and proper permits have been acquired.
The purpose of these burns are to promote native vegetation and reduce competition from cool season vegetation. Controlled burns are one of the most effective and environmentally sound ways to accomplish this practice. Removing the layer of dead grass (“thatch”) ensures better seed-to-soil contact for native plant establishment.
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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources lists the following advantages of controlled burns:
- Maintaining the vertical structure and/or open nature of fire-dependent plant communities.
- Creating open pockets of bare ground, increasing seed-to-soil contact for plant species.
- Reducing competition for slow-growing native trees that would otherwise be shaded out.
- Recycling nutrients from burned fuels back into the soil.
- Reducing the presence of fire-intolerant non-natives by exploiting their sensitivity to heat.
In Photos: The Great River Road in Wisconsin and Minnesota
A motorist drives along the Great River Road along I-90 north of La Crescent.
A view of the Mississippi River from I-90 along the Great River Road.
A view of the Mississippi River from I-90 along the Great River Road.
A view of the Mississippi River from Hwy. 61 along the Great River Road.
A boat is seen on the Mississippi River from Hwy. 61 north of La Crescent.
A sign for the Great River Road is seen along I-90 north of La Crescent.
A scenic overlook on the Great River Road along HWY 61 in Minn. offers a view of Perot State Park in Wis. across the Mississippi River.
A scenic overlook on the Great River Road along HWY 61 in Minn. offers a view of Perot State Park in Wis.
US Lock and Dam 8 in Genoa, Wis. is among the many landmarks that can be seen when traveling the Great River Road.
The vast expanse of the Upper Mississippi River is seen from a scenic outlook above Hwy. 35 north of Genoa.
The vast expanse of the Upper Mississippi River is seen from a scenic outlook above Hwy. 35 north of Genoa.
Bluffs tower over Hwy. 35 along the Great River Road on the outskirts of Stoddard, Wis.
Fisherman on the Mississippi River and bluffs in Minnesota beyond are seen from Hwy. 35 south of La Crosse on the Great River Road.
A sign marks the route for the Great River Road along Hwy. 35 in Stoddard, Wis.
