Prior Lake, Minn. – The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) is planning prescribed burns during the fall fire season, which typically occurs from October through the first snow, depending on weather conditions. Several burns are planned, totaling about 13 reservation acres and an additional 60 acres off the reservation at the request of neighboring governments.

A prescribed burn is an intentionally lit, controlled fire used by land managers to replicate natural fire events. Prescribed burns are usually conducted as a treatment during vegetation dormancy, and timed to coincide with early- and late-season growth of non-native/invasive species. All prescribed burns depend entirely upon weather conditions such as relative humidity, temperature, and wind speed and direction.

“Our priorities this fall are leading local prescribed burns in cooperation with several of our neighbors in Prior Lake, Shakopee, and Scott County,” said SMSC Director of Land and Natural Resources Stan Ellison. “Prescribed burns are designed to meet ecological objectives, 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:

9 acres of prairie – northeast intersection of McKenna Road and CSAH 16
4 acres of prairie – along Dakotah Parkway west of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Center

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

5 acres of oak savanna at The Landing – northeast intersection of Highway 101 and Shenandoah Drive – as requested by Scott County and Three Rivers Park District
55 acres of prairie at Doyle-Kennefick Regional Park – northeast of Panama Avenue (County Road 23) and 235th Street East – as requested by Scott County and Three Rivers Park District

Other prescribed burn units may be added in response to favorable burning conditions and/or additional requests.

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 wildland 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. Together the SMSC and the SMSC Gaming Enterprise (Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and Little Six Casino) are the largest employer in Scott County. Having donated more than $325 million since opening its Gaming Enterprise in the 1990s, as well as providing more than $500 million in economic development loans to other tribes, the SMSC is the largest philanthropic benefactor for Indian Country nationally and one of the largest charitable givers in Minnesota.