By Mike Howe

Prairie management in the park is a sub-function of the work the Buckthorn Brigade has been conducting for the  past five years. 

Barsness Park is 250 acres in size, 40 acres of which is prairie, much of which is native or virgin prairie. Native prairie is land which has never been tilled or broken by a plow or other mechanical equipment. This typically means the land has the diversity of up to 300 grass and plant species, several hundred other biologic species of butterflies, insects and other fauna. The more diverse the prairie is, the healthier it is considered. The goal of prairie management is to use several tools to reduce invasive species like buckthorn, brome grass, thistle, sumac, etc., and to open the opportunities for native plants and other species to increase and thrive. Since specific prairie management started in the Park (about one year), buckthorn cutting with spot application of herbicide, brush hog mowing and chain saw cutting of buckthorn, sumac cutting have all been useful management tools. Grazing, while used by the Brigade, has not been used on the prairie. Controlled burn fire management was used once in May of this year at a small parcel adjacent to Park Road, and more recently (November 9) on a larger parcel adjacent to the “big rock” on North end of prairie.

The November controlled burn had mixed results because some of the burn area was lacking in fuel and some vegetative areas were too wet or had too much green vegetation. The areas with thick prairie grasses burned the most productively.  The burn crew consisted of eight persons, two of whom were local fire department officials. The Department people also brought their “grass rig” which was of excellent support to the process.  Additional burns could happen yet this year or next spring or fall, largely dependent upon conditions appropriate to controlled burns. The following pictures show some of the activity of the November burn.