The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will be conducting prescribed burns this Spring on wildlife management areas managed by the Iowa DNR’s Maquoketa Wildlife Unit. Local counties involved include Jackson, Jones, Dubuque, Delaware and Clayton counties. Areas scheduled for prescribed burns are Green Island and Big Mill, in Jackson County; Muskrat Slough and Oxford Junction, in Jones County; Whitewater, Ram Hollow and White Pine Hollow State Preserve, in Dubuque County; Buffalo Creek, Backbone State Park and the Manchester Fish Hatchery, in Delaware County; and Sny Magil, Leonard, Cowbranch, Klingman/Etringer, Volga, Ensign Hollow and Big Springs Fish Hatchery, in Clayton County. Prescribed burns are used to improve wildlife habitat, control invasive plant species, restore and maintain native plant communities, and reduce wildfire potential. Prescribed burns vary in size from a few acres to several hundred acres. Prescribed burns typically begin mid to late morning and are completed by late afternoon or early evening. Prescribed burns usually occur between mid-March and mid-May, and will be conducted when burn plan objectives are met and weather conditions allow. Any prescribed burn not completed this spring may be conducted in the fall. Contact Iowa DNR wildlife biologist Nick McClimon at 563-219-4148 with any questions or concerns.
