Luther prairies set ablaze

The warm spring sun hasn’t been the only thing heating up campus these past few weeks. Luther students and faculty have been busy maintaining Decorah’s biodiversity by setting the prairies on fire.

Anderson Prairie and Hickory Ridge, both located near Baker Village, as well as Gateway Prairie, the grassy area across the dike from the soccer fields, have all met the torch this spring.

Prairie burns are not unmonitored bonfires, but rather strategically planned events that encourage the recycling of nutrients and the stimulation of growth in Iowa’s once most-prominent ecosystem. Burning the existing grasses ensures that weeds won’t overtake plants in the prairies.

Biology professor Kirk Larsen plays a key role in organizing the burns and is the self-proclaimed “burn boss.”

“I became involved with the prairie burns in the mid-90s when I started researching how people manage prairies and what impact that has on the ecosystem,” Larsen said.

Bison grazing and prairie fires are the two main natural processes that occur in prairies. The biology department and the grounds crew attempt to recreate these processes with regular mowing and annual burns.

“If we want to keep these prairies in shape for athletic teams and classes, we need to be starting fires... safely,” Larsen said.

When the weather conditions are just right, student volunteers and faculty coordinators arrive with torches, water tanks and “flappers,” or large rubber mats attached to a stick, to assist in managing the fire.

Max Molzahn (‘12) works as a land intern for the environmental studies department and was involved in this year’s burn.

“Prairie burns are something that need to be done to help keep Luther’s prairies healthy,” Molzahn said. “Being involved is a fun and interesting experience.”

Students interested in being involved in future burns should e-mail Kirk Larsen at
larsenkj@luther.edu.