Crews with the Buffalo Grove forestry division of the Public Works Department are gearing up for the season’s first controlled burning of “undesirable species” of vegetation and greenery of the season.
“Most of our burning will be conducted in the spring before plants green-up,” Tom Milas, forestry and grounds manager, told Pioneer Press.
He said the department is planning the first burn of the season for mid-March. His department just recently submitted a permit with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in order to move forward.
“This year, we have applied to burn 31 locations throughout the village,” Milas said. “This is an ambitious goal. Prescription burning is very much weather dependent. We plan around current weather conditions and burn the area those conditions are most favorable for. I would consider 10 or 11 locations a win for this year.”
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Prescription burning is not new to the village, Milas said, but it has been used more frequently in recent years. A prescribed burn, he explained, is a land management technique used by trained and experienced forestry professionals to control unwanted vegetation and enhance the environmental health of prairie, woodland and wetland areas.
“Burning is a very economical and efficient management tool to maintain and preserve public lands,” he said.
With the burn, he explained, a fire is set intentionally to recycle nutrients back into the soil, stimulate and promote native plant and pollinator communities, reduce debris accumulation, and control unwanted vegetation while promoting seed production and the viability of desirable plants.
Residents near a prescribed burn can expect smoke, Milas said, but complaints are typically minimal.
“Complaints are usually related to not notifying enough people,” he said. “We do our best every year to make sure our surrounding residents are aware prior to each burn.”
He said when the department plans a burn, they analyze wind directions in an effort to move the smoke away from residential areas as much as possible. The village also notifies authorities prior to starting every burn to help eliminate unnecessary calls from area first responders. Most of the burns, he said, are small and are done in one day or less.
Recently, the forestry department created a natural area program and identified locations throughout the village that need management and enhancement.
“With grant funding, we have been able to recently convert some turf grass locations with native plants and grasses, helping to improve the native habitat and pollinators such as the Monarch butterfly,” Milas said. “We are also focusing on removing invasive woody species, such as buckthorn and honeysuckle, from our woodlands.
“Throughout the course of the year, we also scout locations and use selective herbicidal control for invasive weeds such as Phragmite, Bird’s-foot trefoil, Teasel, Crown vetch, and Reed Canary grass,” Milas said. “Invasive plants can take over an area fast, so providing no maintenance is not an option in these areas.”
Milas identified a few areas in the village recently restored by the forestry and grounds division, and ones on the burn list for this year.
The Buffalo Creek Nature Preserve is at the southeast corner of Arlington Heights and Checker roads and underwent a streambank stabilization project funded by grants in recent years. Invasive trees were removed along the creek banks and the area was restored with native plants and grasses. He said with donations from the Rotary Green and Siemens, 100 native trees, including oaks and hickories, were planted. He said the village plans to burn both sides of the creek for the first time this season. This area has a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BuffaloCreekNaturePreserve/
Farrington is another area on the 2022 burn list. Previously, the forestry division used grant funding to remove invasive buckthorn and restore the area with native plants and grasses making it native habitat friendly, officials explained.
At the Village Hall basin on the campus near Raupp Boulevard and Lake Cook Road, the turf grass detention basin was converted to a native plant green infrastructure area. Previously, the location was mowed weekly, broadcast weed controlled and fertilized three times a year, Milas said.
“Now, this area has a great diversity in plants, helps filter storm water runoff, lowers soil temperatures, provides aesthetics and provides native habitat,” he said, adding this area is also on the burn list.
This year, the Buffalo Grove forestry division is using social media to advise and raise awareness among area residents about possible burns. In the next few weeks, a letter will be sent to all residents within a quarter mile of each burn location, Milas said. This will give anyone with medical issues time to contact the village if they want or need a day of notification before the burn.
Elizabeth Owens-Schiele is a freelancer.