Riverside Woods
Controlled Burn
April 4, 2025
On April 4, 2025, the Bruce Trail Conservancy will be conducting a controlled burn at The Akela & Scouter’s Heather & Ross Hamlin Nature Reserve at Riverside Woods (Riverside Woods) to improve grassland habitat.
What is a controlled burn?
A controlled burn, also known as a prescribed burn, is a deliberately set, carefully planned, and controlled fire that consumes ground-level fuels such as dried leaves, grass, other plants, needles, and fallen woody debris. This practice is a widely used and scientifically recognized method of controlling invasive and weedy plant species, allowing for the growth and regeneration of native grassland species.
Where will it take place?
Location
Riverside Woods
713403 1st Line EHS
Mono, ON
There will be no access to the property, including the laneway, Upland Side Trail, Goodyear Memorial Side Trail and Rushing River Side Trail, on the day of the burn. Staff and volunteers will be positioned at entrance points.
When will it take place?
The controlled burn will take place in the afternoon on April 4, 2025. Please be aware that the Trail will be closed through this area for the duration of the burn.
Who is conducting the controlled burn?
Bruce Trail Conservancy’s controlled burn will take place under the supervision of the prescribed burn specialists from Lands & Forests Consulting Ltd. who have conducted many burns of this nature, including ones in previous years at the BTC’s Fishers Pond Nature Reserve. They are very experienced in ensuring that the burn is controlled and safe and will conduct the burn in such a way as to encourage the smoke to rise in order to minimize impacts on surrounding areas.
The fire department has been notified and has acknowledged the burn plan.
Bruce Trail Conservancy staff and volunteers will be on site on the day of the burn as well to ensure the safety of those in the area.
Who will it affect?
Those who live near Riverside Woods have been notified of the burn, thanks to the door-to-door visits conducted by our volunteers.
The date of the prescribed burn will be dependent on the weather. To minimize impacts, the burn will be conducted in weather conditions that encourage the smoke to rise and that reduce smoke drift into the closest residential area. Smoke may remain on site for up to 48 hours after fires have been extinguished.
For health reasons, it is recommended that individuals with asthma avoid prolonged exposure to the smoke. If respiratory irritation occurs, please move away from the smokey area immediately and contact a physician.
Grassland Restoration and the BTC
This is intended to be the first operational controlled burn for Riverside Woods since the BTC purchased the property in 2023. Site preparation for grassland restoration began at Riverside Woods in 2024 with the application of herbicide in the meadow areas to control invasive species that are present on the property. The burn is an important next step in the site preparation process and is intended to remove the dead vegetation (thatch) covering the ground to expose the soil so that native plant species can germinate and grow. After the burn, a final round of herbicide application will be completed, followed by the seeding of native grassland species.
Many of Ontario’s threatened and endangered plant and animal species are restricted to native grassland habitat, but less than 3% of Southern Ontario’s native grassland habitat remains today. The BTC’s goal is to restore native grassland at Riverside Woods to provide habitat for these rare plants and animals.
Wildlife
The burn is scheduled for the period in spring preceding extensive reptile movements. Conducting the burn in early spring also means that most birds have not yet returned from their migration or have not yet nested.
Wildlife in the area will be able to flee the prescribed burn area and take refuge in the surrounding habitats that include nearby meadows and forests that will not be affected by the burn.
Many species rely on tallgrass prairies and fire is an important, natural component in establishing and sustaining this habitat for years to come.
Questions about the prescribed burn?
For more information about the prescribed burn, please contact Mara McHaffie at 1-800-665-4453 x225 or email us below.
