Students should not be alarmed if they see large smoke clouds coming from the Lakeshore area in the next week or two as the University of Wisconsin-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve will receive prescribed burnings to restore and manage the prairies with weather permitting, according to a statement released by the university.
Quercus Land Stewardship Services will conduct the burnings for the nature preserve and other areas near campus including Lot 34, near Tripp Residence Hall, and smaller lots near Willow Creek. Smaller lots near Picnic Point may also be burned if ideal weather conditions, dry enough for leaves and debris to catch fire, are met.
The company has not set a formal date for the burnings due to the close proximity to the university, and necessity of weather conditions that would remove smoke from “sensitive areas” in and around campus, according to the statement.
All members of the company have completed wildland fire training courses from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.
