Federal Agency Postpones Controlled Burns at Great Swamp in Southern Morris

MORRIS COUNTY, N.J.– The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has postponed a series of controlled burns in the Great Swamp until the week of Nov. 28, officials said.

The November dates depend on weather conditions, favorable winds for smoke to rise and disperse and the availability of trained firefighters, according to a press release from Morris County.

Rain and wind delayed last week's scheduled controlled burns, the release states.

The use of prescribed fire to restore habitat is part of the refuge’s Comprehensive Conservation Plan, which was finalized November of 2014, according to the release.

The Wildlife Refuge was established in 1960, in part, to provide habitat for migrating ducks and geese (waterfowl), and for the conservation of the nation’s wetlands, the release states.

According to the release, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regularly conducts prescribed burns on refuge lands to maintain and restore habitat for wildlife.

The goal of these prescribed burns is to increase the amount of open water available to waterfowl by reducing the amount of standing dead vegetation, the release states.

In total, the Wildlife Service expects to burn 490 acres, with an active burning period of 2 to 6 hours – roughly 4 days to complete, according to the release.

For more information, call (973) 425-1222, ext. 157.

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