The U.S. Forest Service says it plans to conduct two prescribed burns at Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area starting this month.
The forest service says the burns will help “reestablish fire’s natural role in the forest ecosystem while providing unique opportunities in environmental education and research.”
It says the fires will be set with goals of increasing habitat diversity and reducing hazardous fuels as well.
A Franklin Creek prescribed burn is 2,641 acres. The forest service says it’s located east of Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway, north of U.S. 68/KY 80. It lies withing the Oak Grassland Demonstration Area, and the forest service says the future goal is to support an oak savannah.
A Buffalo Trail prescribed burn located west of Woodlands Trace, south of the South Bison Range, is 2,530 acres. The forest service says that burn unit is associated with research being done by students at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville evaluating the effects of prescribed fire on birds.
The burn is being conducted to maintain the woodland condition while supporting research.