FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 30, 2020) - A portion of Taylorsville Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is scheduled to be closed for two days in November for a prescribed burn south of Old Briar Ridge Road (KY 3228) in Spencer County.
A prescribed burn is a controlled fire that improves forest and grassland health, thereby enhancing the habitat (including food sources) preferred by native wildlife.
As part of an ongoing hardwood forest improvement project, officials with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, together with other partnering agencies, plan to conduct the burn on 585 acres located on the western half of the Briar Ridge area of the WMA. Public access to Taylorsville Lake and the remainder of the 9,418-acre WMA will not be impacted by the activity.
Officials have a narrow window of time to conduct the burn this fall and achieve the desired results.
Plans call for the burn to occur Nov. 9-10. Managers will take into consideration wind, air temperature, relative humidity, soil moisture and other factors before determining whether to proceed as planned on those days.
Prescribed fire is an efficient tool for habitat management. Burning sets back plant growth in fields and along edges, creates desirable open spaces on the ground’s surface by removing leaf litter, improves native warm-season grass composition within fields and helps control invasive plants. November is an optimal time for using fire to eradicate undesirable tree species to promote regeneration and growth of nut-producing trees such as oak and hickory.
Adjacent landowners are being notified of the planned burn, and the area will be monitored until all fire, embers and smoke are extinguished.
As a safety precaution, the affected portion of the Briar Ridge area will be closed to the public during active burn operations.
Old Briar Ridge Road will be accessible from the KY 248 intersection west to Taylorsville Lake WMA shooting range. The range is closed on Mondays, but will be open and available for public use during normal operating hours on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
For more information about controlled burning, visit
kyfire.org.