The Washington County Conservation Board will be burning their north prairie this evening, April 26th. Join Naturalist Megan Jorgensen for a short program beforehand on the importance of burning. Cars may park across 92 at Vision Ag for the best view of the prairie burn. The burn will begin at dusk. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, a way to improve wildlife habitat or meet some other specific land management goal is by purposely burning an area. Unlike campfires or wildfires, a prescribed burn is used to manage an area such as forest, native prairie, pasture, or wildlife land and is done under specific conditions, with appropriate safety precautions. Fire has historically maintained grassland habitats, nourishing the growth of lush grasses and wildflowers. Today, burning native grasses can enhance habitat that benefits declining grassland species.