Braeburn Marsh scheduled burn next week

A controlled burn to rid Braeburn Marsh of invasive cattails has been scheduled for next week.

Applied Ecological Services will clear the vegetation Monday through Wednesday if weather permits. If it doesn't, the company will try again Nov. 30 to Dec. 4.

The marsh, near Randall Road and McKee Street in Batavia, has become clogged with cattails. They impede the flow of water through the marsh to Mill Creek, as trash catches on the stalks above the water line, and the plants decay into sediment below. This causes stormwater in the nearby Braeburn North neighborhood, which drains to the marsh, to back up, flooding houses.

The burn is just one remedy to improve the drainage of the marsh. The city is making plans to remove underwater vegetation and sediment that has built up in the nearly 20 years since the marsh was created. It has lost a foot of capacity in that time.

Postcards have been sent to nearby residents advising them of the burn. AES recommends keeping pets inside and windows closed during the burns.

AES originally thought it would have to spray herbicide on the cattails before burning them, but since the plants are dormant for the season, that won't be needed.