GENEVA – With warm weather conditions, the Forest Preserve District of Kane County hopes to get a head start on the prescribed burn season.



Each spring and fall, the district conducts prescribed burns across prairies, woodlands and wetlands in an effort to improve or maintain the ecological health of a site.



These carefully controlled burns release nutrients from burned plant materials, encourage seed growth, open the woodland floor to sunlight so native wildflowers and plants can flourish and reduce the abundance of non-native brush such as buckthorn.



Sites targeted for the spring burn season include portions of the following Kane County forest preserves:







Grassland/wetland areas:



• Dick Young Forest Preserve in Batavia



• Meissner-Corron Forest Preserve in Campton and Plato Townships



• Freeman Kame – Meagher Forest Preserve in Rutland



• Campton Forest Preserve in Campton Hills



• Aurora West Forest Preserve in Aurora



• Mill Creek Forest Preserve in Geneva







Woodlands:



• Bliss Woods Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove



• Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve in Elburn



• LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles



• Lone Grove Forest Preserve in Kaneville



• Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva



• Burnidge Forest Preserve in Elgin



• Big Rock Forest Preserve in Big Rock



• Hannaford Woods/Nickels Farm Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove



• Blackberry Maples Forest Preserve in Blackberry Township



• Schweitzer Woods Forest Preserve in Dundee



• Fitchie Creek Forest Preserve in Plato Township



• Elburn Forest Preserve in Elburn



Before a burn, trained staff members survey the preserve and create a detailed plan of action. They then carefully monitor the weather and wait until conditions are right, to minimize the chance of smoke blowing toward homes and roads.



Staff members also will notify residents via mail, so that those with health concerns can avoid the smoke.



For information, call 630-232-5980 or visit www.kaneforest.com.