Controlled burned planned by Round Lake Area Park District

The Round Lake Area Park District has contracted Pizzo & Associates Ltd. to perform a controlled burn of approximately 12 acres of savanna and wetland within Shagbark Nature Preserve. Prescribed burning is a safe and important management tool used by natural area managers throughout the United States. Nonnative, weedy plant species cannot tolerate fire while native trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers can, and are fire-dependent. Employees with Pizzo & Associates are trained by the National Wildlife Coordinating Group and are experienced in burning wetlands, grasslands, savannas and woodlands.

An open burning permit has been obtained from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Local police and fire departments will be notified in advance of the burn and again the day of the burn.

The controlled burn will be conducted between Monday, March 23, and Thursday, April 30, dependent on weather conditions. The burn will last approximately six hours. Despite the low amount of smoke typically generated by prescribed burns and the efforts taken by Pizzo & Associates to minimize the impact of smoke on nearby houses, wind and weather conditions can increase the amount of smoke produced. Residents are advised to keep windows closed between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., the time period during which the burn will be performed.

To be contacted before the burn, contact Eric Johnson with Pizzo & Associates at (815) 495-2300 or ericj@pizzo.info. For additional information on Pizzo & Associates, visit www.pizzo.info.