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Contact: Forest Eidbo, 651-293-8458
SAINT PAUL, MN -- The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park Service, plans to conduct prescribed burns at the Coldwater Spring Unit on March 18, 2024. The burn will only occur if the fuel and weather conditions are within approved levels. The Coldwater Spring Unit of Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is located directly south of Minneapolis, MN, near the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
Prescribed fire is one process that land managers utilize to restore and maintain natural landscapes. Benefits to the Coldwater Spring Unit’s oak savannas and prairies include stimulating native grasses and herbs, increasing native plant species diversity, and suppressing non-native grasses and forbs. Fire is often seen as destructive, but prescribed fires can benefit ecosystems if conducted under the right conditions.
Smoke will impact the Coldwater Spring Unit on the day of the prescribed burn, and access will be limited. Access to nearby Minnehaha Regional Park and Fort Snelling State Park will not be limited. The fires are anticipated to last no more than one day, with up to two additional days for monitoring and patrol.
One parameter needed for the weather requirements is the wind speed and direction. To minimize the impact of smoke on nearby MSP airport, the burn will only occur if winds are coming from the west, southwest, or south. Smoke from the prescribed fires may be visible from MN Hwy 55 and MN Hwy 62.
The last prescribed burn at the Coldwater Spring Unit was in the spring of 2021 when 19 acres were burned. The recommended burn cycle for prairie savanna habitat is 3-5 years.
Additional details and updates will be posted on the park’s website www.nps.gov/miss and social media channels.
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About Mississippi National River and Recreation Area: Established on November 18, 1988 the park protects, preserves, and enhances the 72 miles of the Mississippi River through the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The National Park Service (NPS) manages the park primarily through partnership with local governments within the park boundaries and manages less than 100 acres across multiple island and upland units. The Coldwater Spring Unit is the largest NPS managed unit in Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
Last updated: March 15, 2024