English: In the Kulm Wetland Management District, areas of native prairie are burned later in the spring to set back non-native smooth brome grass. You can see from these photos that this prairie looks very green. However, there are several years of dead plant growth beneath the new green that easily carries a burn. Burning smooth brome between the 3-5 leaf stage takes the most toll on its stored energy reserves and gives native plants the best chance to re-establish.

After the next rain shower, this area will green up very quickly, and should even be able to be grazed in the same year if desired.

Prescribed fire is a management tool that is used to maintain the vigor of a prairie. As with grazing, native prairie plants adapted to the frequent fires that raged across the Great Plains. These fires were historically started by lightning strikes and burned many miles of uninterrupted prairie. Fire is one of the best management tools for weakening non-native species. It removes the accumulated litter layer, stimulates new plant growth, and can be used to prepare ground for restoration.

Photo Credit: Krista Lundgren/USFWS