Prior Lake, Minn. – The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) is planning prescribed burns during the spring fire season, which typically occurs from April to May, but can vary depending on weather conditions. The SMSC conducts prescribed burns on reservation lands and in neighboring governments’ jurisdictions each fall and spring as an effective land management tool. Several burns are planned on about 95 acres of reservation land and 24 acres of off-reservation land.

A prescribed burn is an intentionally lit, controlled fire used by land managers to replicate natural fire events. Prescribed burns are usually conducted during vegetation dormancy, and fire practitioners often time the burns to coincide with the early growth of non-native/invasive species. 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.

“Our priorities this spring are leading local prescribed burns in cooperation with several of our neighbors in Prior Lake and Scott County,” said SMSC Director of Land and Natural Resources Stan Ellison. “Prescribed burns bring many environmental benefits, including adding nutrients to the soil, releasing native seed banks, rejuvenating native prairie grasses, removing dead biomass, helping kill invasive species, and reducing the risk of wildfires.”

Planned locations

The SMSC plans to hold prescribed burns in the following locations on the reservation:

2 acres of prairie – south of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 42, west of CSAH 83
1 acre of prairie in the center medians of Dakotah Parkway
4 acres of wetland and prairie – south of CSAH 42 and Dakotah Parkway intersection
2 acres of wetland and prairie – north of Dakota Trail, northwest of Big Eagle’s subdivision
5 acres of wetland and prairie – northwest of CSAH 83 and 82 intersection
5 acres of wetland and prairie – northeast of CSAH 83 and 82 intersection
10 acres of prairie – northeast of McKenna Road and CSAH 16 intersection
20 acres of prairie – southwest of the County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 83 and 42 intersection
6 acres of prairie – northeast of the CSAH 83 and 42 intersection
15 acres of wetland and woodland/pasture – south of CSAH 42, east of Dakotah Parkway, adjacent to the SMSC Public Works building
25 acres of prairie – northwest of CSAH 17 and East County Road 72 intersection

The SMSC plans to hold prescribed burns in the following off-reservation locations in Prior Lake and Shakopee:

16 acres of woodland/pasture at Spring Lake Park – south of CSAH 82 and northeast of Howard Lake Road – requested by Scott County and Three Rivers Park District
4 acres of prairie at Five Hawks Elementary – northwest of Highway 13 and Five Hawks Avenue – requested by Prior Lake/Savage Area Schools
4 acres of oak savanna at Shakopee Memorial Park – northwest of Highway 101 and Shenandoah Drive intersection

The SMSC conducts prescribed burns on reservation lands and in neighboring governments’ jurisdictions each spring and fall as an effective land management tool and to participate in inter-government, inter-agency cooperation. Staff trained in wild land firefighting from the SMSC Land and Natural Resources Department, Mdewakanton Public Safety, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs conduct the prescribed burns.

About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Indian tribe located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. With a focus on being a good neighbor, good steward of the earth, and good employer, the SMSC is committed to charitable donations, community partnerships, a healthy environment, and a strong economy. The SMSC and the SMSC Gaming Enterprise (Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and Little Six Casino) are the largest employer in Scott County. Out of a Dakota tradition to help others, the SMSC has donated nearly $300 million to organizations and causes since opening the Gaming Enterprise in the 1990s and has contributed millions more to regional governments and infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer systems, and emergency services.