Prior Lake, Minn. – The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) is planning several prescribed burns this spring, typically in April-May depending on weather conditions. The SMSC conducts prescribed burns on reservation lands and, upon request, in neighboring jurisdictions each spring and fall as an effective land management tool. The planned burns this spring total 279 reservation acres and an additional 4 acres in Shakopee.

The specific locations are:

  • 175 acres on Buffalo Pasture Prairie (north of the SMSC’s Organics Recycling Facility)
  • 70 acres on Widman Prairie (south of County State Aid Highway 16, west of County State Aid Highway 21, east of McKenna Road, and north of Tinta Ochanku Road)
  • 25 acres on Dockendorf Prairie (west of County State Aid Highway 17, north of 160th Street East/County Road 72)
  • 7 acres on Wetland C-24 (east of the SMSC’s Public Works building on Dakotah Parkway, south of County State Aid Highway 42)
  • 4 acres of Shakopee Memorial Park oak savanna (north of Highway 101 and Shenandoah Road)
  • 2 acres at King Prairie (north of Wozupi Tribal Gardens’ headquarters)

Other prescribed burn units may be added in response to favorable burning conditions and/or additional requests. All prescribed burns depend entirely upon weather conditions such as temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed and direction.

About prescribed burns

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. These burns help accomplish several 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.

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. Following a Dakota tradition of generosity, the SMSC is one of the top philanthropists in Minnesota and is the largest contributor to Native American tribes 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.