If conditions are right, Wednesday, August 31, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and The Nature Conservancy of Washington will do a controlled burn at the Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve (NAP), using fire to promote growth of native prairie plants and reduce thatch and shrubs in this rare grassland ecosystem. Fire has played an important role in prairies and oak woodlands in the Puget Sound lowlands. The controlled burn will improve 30 acres of the preserve, south of Olympia. DNR has scheduled the burn twice in the past two months, only to have conditions change and halt the plans.

During the burn, the preserve will be open but the “south loop” trail will be closed to ensure public safety.
Firefighters will use fire engines and other fire suppression techniques to prevent the fire from spreading beyond the control lines and will assist in mop-up efforts. Controlled burns are a safe and cost-effective way to reintroduce natural disturbance to fire-adapted ecosystems. They are conducted when weather conditions allow for safe burning and minimize the impact of smoke on nearby residents.

DNR manages Natural Areas
Mima Mounds NAP is one of the natural areas that DNR manages statewide. Natural resources conservation areas and natural area preserves—totaling about 136,000 acres—protect native ecosystems and the plant and animal species that depend on them. Many also provide access for education and low impact public use.

Image Credit: CHRIS JOSEPH TAYLOR / THE SEATTLE TIMES