Prescribed Fire Returns to Allegheny N.F.
The Forest conducted some prescribed burning at Buzzard Swamp Management Area to reinvigorate the warm season grasses.
Prescribed burns were conducted at Buzzard Swamp Management Area and Hall Barn on the Marienville R.D., Allegheny N.F., in the spring of 2008.
It has been several years since the Allegheny National Forest conducted prescribed burning of warm season grass fields in the Buzzard Swamp Management area and the Hall Barn site.
Buzzard swamp is an approximately 4,000 acre management area for waterfowl and other species dependant on aquatic ecosystems. Approximately 300 acres is kept in cool season and warms season grasses with assistance from the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
This spring 25 acres of the fields were burned. The primary objective of this project was to burn a specific area of warm season grasses that were starting to decline and revert to other vegetation due to lack of management. This field was planted 8 years ago and has never been burned or mowed which allowed woody plants to start invading. Through the use of fire the Marienville Ranger District was able to set back the woody vegetation interference and reinvigorate the warm season grasses.
In addition to Buzzard Swamp, the Allegheny National Forest burned several acres in an area known as the Hall Barn. This area consists of several acres of Big Blue Stem and switch grass for wildlife habitat adjacent to a large old barn that houses several thousand bats, including maternity colonies.
This area has been planned for over 5 years to have the warm season grass units burned. Due to the small burn windows on the ANF when weather conditions are right, crews and equipment are available and a burn boss is on staff, regular maintenance of these much needed habitats is very difficult.
More prescribed burning is planned for the future on the Allegheny National Forest to improve wildlife habitat and promote growth of native Forbes and Grasses. In addition to the burning, the militia fire fighters got a chance to participate in prescribed burns and gained some valuable experience. For some people, this was the first fire experience they have had on or off forest.
A special thanks goes to Peter To, an FMO from the Midewin National Tall Grass Prairie, for taking the time to come to the Allegheny National Forest to help us with the burns.