During the week of March 10, the Minnesota Department of Transportation plans to burn wood piles comprised of dead and diseased trees removed by the agency’s maintenance crews stretches of Highway 16 in Fillmore County in the southern portion of the state.
[Above photo by MnDOT]
During mild winters, MnDOT said its maintenance crews remove dead and diseased trees, as well as brush that has grown into areas alongside state roadways that may pose a safety risk. MnDOT said it is limited to winter months to complete tree removals, so during light winters, the agency can redirect work crews to accomplish more of this work.
MnDOT said it has a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources burn permit to do the work and will select days for burning when the conditions are suitable for safety, including weather conditions, wind speeds, and direction. Law enforcement and local fire departments will be alerted to MnDOT burn days and its maintenance crew members monitor such burning operations to ensure that it is regularly fueled and observed for safety.
The agency noted it uses “prescribed burns” to promote healthy roadside vegetation as a way to prevent weed infestations, control erosion, protect water quality, and keep roadways safe. Fire is an important aspect of vegetation management because many types of plants need fire for ideal growth, the agency said, in combination with mowing, herbicide application, and other “biological controls.”
MnDOT added that simply spraying weeds does little to prevent repeat infestations. After weeds are controlled, there needs to be desirable vegetation that can fill in to prevent future weed problems. Fire promotes dense stands of native plants that can out-compete weeds and make it harder for them to get established, MnDOT said.
Also, fire encourages dense native vegetation with deep root systems that prevent erosion and filter storm water runoff. Finally, prescribed fire is used to control brush and small trees near the roadway, which would otherwise become safety hazards; helping promote the growth of tall native grasses that trap blowing snow and prevent it from drifting across the road.
