Laserfiche WebLink
64 Friends of the Mississippi River Camp Cozy Park NRMP <br /> Photo 9. Section of Unit 1 near park entrance has experienced significant woody encroachment, July 2023. <br /> <br />PRIORITY 2: Prescribed fire and minor weed management within Unit 1 North Prairie and Unit <br />2 South Prairie <br /> <br />The woody encroachment present in the remnant prairies is a result of fire suppression over <br />the last 70-80 years and a lack of management. Fire has myriad benefits including: <br />• increased plant vigor and abundance when fire stimulates the growth of aboveground <br />vegetation and induces more seeds to germinate, <br />• the recycling of important nutrients when organic matter is broken down releasing <br />nutrients for plant growth, <br />• reduced woody competition and shading as woody species intolerant of fire are <br />suppressed, and <br />• increased soil microbial activity in blackened, and hence, warmer soil. <br /> <br />Historically, dry prairies maintained their open character, species composition and habitat <br />quality with fire on a return interval of less than 10 years. For management of these remnants <br />with greater pressure from encroaching forests and a species composition with higher grass <br />abundance, a prescribed burn interval of 4-6 years is recommended. While the two prairies are <br />separated by only 300 feet, that gap is a dense forest. As such, the two prairies will not provide