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.
Comments
asixbury 2 years ago
That's too bad. Accidents happen. But the boardwalk sounds pretty neat; I hope they rebuild it someday.
LadyJ 2 years ago
The old boardwalk at the wetlands was accidentally burned up during a "controlled" burn that got out of control. They had been advised by the gas pipeline company that it was too windy but they insisted on going ahead anyway.
FalseHopeNoChange 2 years ago
Is there any "ditch weed" in the swamp?
Dibbies on leeward side of the swamp!
g_rock 2 years ago
George Lippencott 2 years ago
Don't hurt my goose!!
FlintlockRifle 2 years ago
Fresh cooked Agnes---
asixbury 2 years ago
Controlled burns are not destroying the wildlife, it actually enhances their environment. State parks use this technique a lot. This method help prevents wildfires, which we can all agree is much more destructive.
I can't believe people around here actually have a problem with controlled burns! The rest of Kansas, including me, think you are all crazy, and not in a good way.
Cant_have_it_both_ways 2 years ago
Great... then if they are smart enough to run from fire..then they should be smart enough to run away from the machinery and equipment required to build the long needed SLT.
I am glad we agree on something.
KSense 2 years ago
Animals have a strong instinct to run from fire. They'll get out of the way.
asixbury 2 years ago
The animals aren't stupid. They will run (or fly or slither) away from the fire. Controlled burns do not spreed very quickly if don't correctly, so the slow burn gives plenty of time for the wildlife to scoot.
Cant_have_it_both_ways 2 years ago
It is always ok, depending on who or what wants to do it.
g_rock 2 years ago
Remember the save the beavers thing a few years ago? Crispy beaver?
Ken Lassman 2 years ago
I realize that the tongue is planted firmly in several commenter's cheeks, but for those who don't know, prairie burns are management techniques that have been used by humans in this area for thousands of years in order to 1) kill woody invasives which in this area would otherwise take over the prairies; and 2) stimulate earlier growth of grasses and forbs, some of which have evolved to grow better with periodic burns, providing a higher quality, earlier source of food that actually attracts wildlife.
And for those who are concerned about the greenhouse gases and pollution released by the burns, fire has been a central part of these ecosystems since time immemorial and are creating emissions that have been incorporated into the atmosphere for just as long. To blame burning prairies as the problem is kinda like paving over much of a valley and complaining that the creek that drains it is a big problem because it is overflowing the banks and therefore needs to be channelized. In other words, we need to take care of our emissions before worrying about the emissions from prairie burns.
kernal 2 years ago
Better a controlled burn now than a wildfire this summer.
Although lightening is often the culprit of wildfires so are humans. Especially irresponsible are people who persist in throwing lit cigarette butts out their car window during red flag warnings.
guess_again 2 years ago
Seared Agnes T. ummm ummm good.
Cant_have_it_both_ways 2 years ago
Seems no one cares about the endangered wildlife being burned to death. Where are the greenies and frog lovers now?
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