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Sisters use burn to enhance growth of prairie
March 12, 2010
Much of the five acres of prairie on the IHM Sisters Elm Avenue property will undergo a prescribed burn in the coming weeks - between March 15 and April 30.
"Burning is an important management tool for maintaining and enhancing the prairie areas of our Monroe campus," explains Danielle Conroyd, project director for the Monroe Campus Long Range Master Plan. "Burning removes dead material that may be choking out new growth and helps control invading plants. It releases nutrients from the dead vegetation, and the blackened soil absorbs more heat from the sun, which stimulates seed germination and growth."
Weather will be a critical factor in the timing of the burn. Temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed are all factors, which is why a specific day for the burn can't be predetermined.
The sisters obtained a controlled burn permit from the City of Monroe. David Borneman, of David Borneman LLC in Ann Arbor, is coordinating the burn. He will select the specific day of the burn when ideal weather conditions are present.
Mr. Borneman has 20 years experience conducting prescribed burns on thousands of acres in Michigan and Ohio. Since 1993, he has coordinated the Natural Area Preservation Division of Ann Arbor's Parks Department, leading their efforts to restore and manage 1200 acres of undeveloped parkland. He is the past chair of the Michigan Prescribed Fire Council and a board member of the Natural Areas Association, the Midwest Invasive Plant Network and the Stewardship Network.
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