A controlled grass burn is scheduled Thursday morning for the Baker Wetlands south of Lawrence, said Roger Boyd, director of natural areas for Baker University.

An area between 200 and 250 acres will be burned in sections, beginning about 8 a.m., Boyd said, though wet weather overnight could delay the start time by a few hours. The grass burning could take most of the morning. It is scheduled for today because the wind is expected to be out of the north.

Boyd said the burn served several purposes, including to kill woody vegetation and to shorten the grass, which is 9 feet high in some areas, thus allowing new plants to grow.