• Badlands formations against the blue sky; photo by Rikk Flohr

    Badlands

    National Park South Dakota

Prescribed Burn Planned for Badlands

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Date: September 8, 2011
Contact: Jennie Albrinck, 605-433-5240

BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK, Interior, S.D. - Fire crews from Badlands National Park and the Northern Great Plains Fire Office are preparing for a planned 2,237-acre burn that is expected to take place Friday, September 9th. The burn location is south of the Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) from approximately the White River Valley Overlook to the Prairie Winds Overlook. The goal of the burn is to restore the natural process of fire to the prairie ecosystem and to reduce the build-up of dead and dried fuels.

Prescribed fires are carefully conducted under approved conditions. Factors such as humidity, fuel moisture, wind speed and direction, and forecasted weather are all considered in establishing the acceptable conditions for conducting a prescribed fire. If the prescribed set of conditions does not exist, the planned fire is postponed.


-NPS-

Did You Know?

The white water of Sage Creek

Available water in the badlands is always loaded with sediment. Cloudy and milky white in appearance, the water contains particles that carry a slight charge of electricity. The particles repel each other, instead of settling to the bottom. Early visitors found the water unsuitable for drinking.