Lakeshore State Park, on the shores of Lake Michigan near the Summerfest grounds, was set ablaze Tuesday morning — intentionally.
The goal: to introduce fire to the landscape and help native plants thrive.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, along with Good Oak Ecological Services, conducted the first-ever prescribed burn at the park, which features one of Milwaukee County’s rare urban prairies. With its native grasses, wildflowers, and vibrant wildlife — including bees, butterflies, and migratory shorebirds — it highlights how nature can thrive in an urban setting.
“Native plants are the base of the food web here,” said Angela Vickio, park superintendent at the Wisconsin DNR. “The more we can do to ensure that we have native biodiversity within our landscape, the better.”
Roughly 9.5 acres of urban prairie were slated to burn Tuesday, with the largest section of prairie a roughly four-acre patch. The team, which consisted of five workers from Good Oak, started at the south end of the park and worked their way north.
When it comes to larger swaths of land where weeds can’t be pulled out, fire is the best tool to manage invasive species, Vickio said. Not only does the prescribed burn kill off the invasive plants, it warms up the soil, giving native plants a kickstart.
It’s not easy pulling off a prescribed burn in an urban setting, and it took a lot of planning, Vickio said. There was a 10-day window in which the DNR planned to conduct the burn. To do it, there had to be low humidity and a west wind, so the smoke would blow away from the city. The burn started around 10 a.m., and the state park should be open again by Tuesday afternoon.
On April 19, the DNR will host a guided tour at the park, so people can learn more about the project and the importance of fire on the landscape.
More: Milwaukee’s Lakeshore State Park will have first-ever prescribed burn. Here’s what to know.
Indigenous people used fire for millennia
Prairies and oak savannas once dominated southern Wisconsin but were nearly eliminated due to agriculture and development.
Fires were vital to that landscape, promoting native plant growth and clearing old vegetation to help prevent out-of-control wildfires. Native Americans used fire for millennia to help manage the land, but when European settlers arrived, they suppressed them. Recently, government agencies and private landowners have recognized the value of reintroducing fire to the landscape.
Prescribed burns help tip the balance towards native plants. Invasive species have shallow roots that are more easily destroyed, while native prairie plants have deep roots that help them survive fire.
The extensive root systems of native plants help support soil health by holding it together. That, in turn, prevents erosion, filters nutrients and allows water to go deep underground. Above ground, the diverse assemblage of flowers and grasses support pollinators, like bees, butterflies and other insects, as well as urban wildlife.
A few weeks from now, grasses and wildflowers should sprout back up on the burn area at Lakeshore State Park. Another benefit of fire is that it increases plant diversity, creating more food sources for pollinators and other wildlife.
More: Milwaukee’s Lakeshore State Park is home to an urban prairie. Here are 5 things to know.
Caitlin Looby is a Report for America corps member who writes about the environment and the Great Lakes. Reach her at clooby@gannett.com, follow her on X @caitlooby and learn more about how she approaches her reporting.
Please consider supporting journalism that informs our democracy with a tax-deductible gift to this reporting effort at jsonline.com/RFA or by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Dr, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What caused smoke near Summerfest? First burn at Lakeshore State Park.