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Prescribed burns planned for this spring

Prior Lake, Minn. — The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) is planning prescribed burns this spring in several locations on SMSC lands listed below. The SMSC conducts prescribed burns on SMSC lands and, upon request and through mutual aid agreements, in neighboring jurisdictions each spring and fall as an effective land management tool.

SMSC locations this spring:

• Shutrop prairie located southeast of the junction of Eagle Creek Blvd and Mckenna Rd.
• Hoċokata Ṫi prairie located west of Tiwahe Circle and Hoċokata Ṫi
• Dakotah Parkway prairie located south of the junction of Dakotah Parkway and Sioux Trail NW
• Tewapa prairie located southeast of the junction of County Rd. 82 and Mniowe Trail
• Shakopee Memorial Park oak savanna located north of County Rd. 101
• Jeurissen prairie located east of the junction of County Rd. 17 and Marcia Lane
• Oak savanna located northeast of the junction of County Rd. 83 and County Rd. 82
• Mitigation prairie located northeast of the junction of Dakotah Parkway and Wacipi Drive
• Dakotah Parkway prairie medians

* Subject to change depending on weather and site conditions

A prescribed burn is an intentionally lit, controlled fire used by land managers to replicate natural fire events. Before Europeans colonized this area, fires were sometimes started by lightening but many more times by Dakota and other Indigenous people. They burned areas for many reasons, most commonly to clear land for agriculture, to improve grazing and forage for game species like bison and to reduce brush in woodlands, which helped with easier travel.

Fire helps native plants in prairies, oak savannas and some wetlands stay healthy and vigorous. These plants provide habitat for species, such as the meadowlark, dickcissel, monarch butterfly and other wildlife. Fire is also a tool to reduce weeds and other invasive woody species that outcompete native plants for resources.

All prescribed burns are designed to meet ecological objectives and are entirely dependent upon weather conditions, such as relative humidity, temperature, and wind speed and direction. Exact dates of the burns will be announced on the SMSC’s Twitter account.

The SMSC wildland fire program coordinates with neighboring entities, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and other state and federal agencies to lead and assist with prescribed burns within the region. During prescribed burns, trained burn crew members monitor weather conditions to protect air quality and road visibility to minimize potential impacts to neighboring communities.

About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Dakota tribal government located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Following a Dakota tradition of generosity, the SMSC is one of the top philanthropists in Minnesota and is the largest contributor to other tribal governments and causes across the country. It is a strong community partner and a leader in protecting and restoring natural resources. The SMSC’s government, Gaming Enterprise and various other enterprises are collectively the largest employer in Scott County and attract millions of visitors to the region.