Iowa DNR news release
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be conducting prescribed burns this spring on wildlife management areas managed by the Iowa DNR’s Iowa River Unit in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Linn and Tama counties.
Areas scheduled for prescribed burns are on Mink Run, in Cedar County; Dudgeon and Red Fox, in Benton County; Iowa River Corridor, in Iowa County; Hawkeye and Redbird Farms, in Johnson County; Chain-O-Lakes, in Linn County; and Iowa River Corridor, Kunch, Union Grove and West Salt Creek, in Tama County.
Prescribed burns are used to improve wildlife habitat, control invasive plant species, restore and maintain native plant communities and reduce wildfire potential and vary in size from a few acres to several hundred acres. Burn units are typically on a 4-5-year rotation.
Prescribed burns typically begin mid to late morning and are completed by late afternoon or early evening between mid-March and mid-May. Burns will be conducted on a day that meets the objectives and weather conditions defined in the burn plan. Any prescribed burns that are not able to be completed this spring will be considered for the burn schedule next fall.
Contact Iowa DNR wildlife biologist Matt Shanklin at 641-840-1199 with any questions or concerns.