Between April 11 and April 17, 2006, the Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity
Partnership successfully conducted prescribed burns in 5 fields at
the
Mohonk Preserve’s Spring Farm.
© Mohonk Preserve
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2009 Burn Window
Between the dates of March 30 and December 15, 2008, the Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Partnership is planning to conduct as many as 9 prescribed burns in old fields and oak forest at Mohonk Preserve. Burns are targeted for the Spring (April, May) and late summer/early fall (August-October), however, the specific dates, locations and times of the burns are dependent on weather and other conditions. Burn crews will be made up of specially trained volunteers and staff from various agencies and organizations, including The Nature Conservancy, Mohonk Preserve, the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, Minnewaska State Park, and the Student Conservation Association. Representatives from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation will also be on hand as a back up resource.
The prescribed burns currently planned for old fields at Mohonk Preserve range from 3 to 10 acres in size. The old field burn units are near the Spring Farm (Town of Marbletown) and Glory Hill (Town of New Paltz) areas. The goal of these burns is to kill off tree saplings and other woody plants that have begun to colonize the fields, stimulate the growth of grasses and other herbs and control exotic/invasive species infestations.
Additional burns are planned in oak forest along Undercliff Road near Rhododendron Bridge and very nearby along Oakwood Drive. These burn units lie in the Town of Rochester and are 30 acres and 7 acres in size, respectively. The Partnership plans to burn portions of these units in early April and also in the late summer or early fall.
For more information:
• Prescribed Burn FAQs
2008 Burn Window
In mid-April of 2008, the Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Partnership was able to burn 4 old fields at Mohonk Preserve, totaling approximately 19 acres. The burns were conducted in the Town of Marbletown at Mohonk Preserve’s Spring Farm area and they helped to reduce invading shrubs and tree saplings in the field. The crew consisted of specially trained volunteers and staff from The Nature Conservancy, Mohonk Preserve, the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the Student Conservation Association.
Plans to burn additional fields in the spring of 2008 were precluded by extremely dry weather conditions that fueled a 3,100 acre wildfire at Minnewaska State Park. This very intense fire highlighted the threat posed both to local communities and the Shawangunk Ridge ecosystem by wildfire .
2007 Burns
Despite unfavorable weather conditions this spring, the Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Partnership was able to conduct one prescribed burn at Mohonk Preserve in the town of New Paltz. The burn was approximately 8 acres in size and helped to reduce invading shrubs and tree saplings in the field. The crew consisted of specially trained volunteers and staff from The Nature Conservancy, Mohonk Preserve, the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the Student Conservation Association.
Spring 2006 Burns
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Fall 2005 Burns
For more information:
• Read the post-burn press release
• View a slideshow
Annual Burn Table
| Burn Window |
Location |
Total Number of Burns |
Total Number of
Acres |
| Spring 2008 |
Mohonk Preserve |
4 |
19 |
| Spring 2007 |
Mohonk Preserve |
1 |
8 |
| Spring 2006 |
Mohonk Preserve |
5 |
18 |
| Fall 2005 |
Mohonk Preserve |
3 |
15 |
| Total |
|
13 |
60 |
|
