For Immediate Release
March 3, 2016
Contact: Tim Nyander
Utilities Director
479.575.8386
tnyander@fayetteville-ar.gov
Prescribed Burn Planned at South Broyles Avenue
The City of Fayetteville will be conducting a prescribed burn Saturday, March 5, 2016, on the wetland mitigation site known as Woolsey Wet Prairie Sanctuary, located immediately north of the West Side Wastewater Treatment Plant at 15 S. Broyles Avenue. Specifically, the burn will take place on a 64.5-acre tract that borders the west side of Broyles Road, to the east of 54th Avenue, and to the south of Persimmon Street.
The purpose of the prescribed burn is for adaptive management of the wetland plant community within the City’s wetland mitigation site. The prescribed burn is expected to commence as the relative humidity drops to a desirable level. Ignition is anticipated to commence late morning to early afternoon. As observed previously, the duration of the burn is typically less than two hours. Wildland, LLC, an experienced and trained burn contractor will conduct the burn under supervision of the City’s environmental consultant, Bruce Shackleford, of ECO Inc. The City of Fayetteville and City of Farmington Fire Departments will be notified, and will be on standby status to assist, if needed. Subsequent to completion of the prescribed burn, the burn crew will assure that all sparks and embers have been fully extinguished.
The prescribed burn serves as a part of vegetation management efforts to maintain a restored remnant wetland prairie that is composed of native plant species. This provides a unique natural resource that few communities have the opportunity to enjoy. This prescribed burn is part of the ongoing ecological management that has promoted native vegetation at this site to flourish. In 2005, 47 plant species were identified at the site. To date, 468 plant species have been observed, 11 of which are species of special concern that are tracked by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission. Information about the sanctuary can be found here: www.fayetteville-ar.gov/470.
A containment line has been established to maintain the fire within the designated burn area. The public is welcome to attend the prescribed burn, however, bystanders will be required to stay behind the containment line. This will be the ninth prescribed burn at Woolsey Wet Prairie Sanctuary. Being a prairie grassland/forb fire, there will not be long-term smoldering as occurs with forest fires.
Should you have any questions concerning the prescribed burn, please contact the City’s environmental consultant, Bruce Shackleford, at 501-765-9009 or bruceshackleford@sbcglobal.net or Seth Pickens at 479-518-1819 or sethpickens@ecoarkansas.com. We appreciate your patience and cooperation in this matter.
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