The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be conducting prescribed burns this spring on wildlife management areas managed by the Iowa DNR’s Iowa River – Hawkeye Unit in Johnson, Linn, Benton and Cedar counties.
Areas scheduled for prescribed burns are on Red Bird and Hawkeye, in Johnson County; Chain-O-Lakes, in Linn County; Dudgeon, in Benton County; and Mink Run, in Cedar County.
Prescribed burns are used to improve wildlife habitat, control invasive plant species, restore and maintain native plant communities and reduce wildfire potential and vary in size from a few acres to several hundred acres. Burn units are typically on a 4-5-year rotation.
Prescribed burns typically begin mid to late morning and are completed by late afternoon or early evening between mid-March and mid-May. Burns will be conducted on a day that meets the objectives and weather conditions defined in the burn plan. Any prescribed burns that are not able to be completed this spring will be considered for the burn schedule next fall.
Contact Iowa DNR wildlife biologist Blaine Becker at 641-481-5018 with any questions or concerns.