Congaree National Park to conduct prescribed burn

Staff at Congaree National Park, along with park partners, are preparing to conduct a prescribed burn on 384 acres Thursday, April 25, weather and conditions permitting. This fire is intended to help with habitat restoration and fuel reduction in accordance with the park’s fire management plan.

Park staff will conduct the prescribed burn with the help of crews from Kings Mountain National Military Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Buffalo National River, as well as from Cherokee National Forest, South Carolina Forestry Commission, and The Nature Conservancy.

This year marks 35 years since Congaree National Park began using prescribed burns in order to reintroduce fire to help maintain the upland areas of the park. Historically, natural, low burning fires allowed longleaf pine to flourish i by controlling faster growing hardwoods that might eventually crowd them out. Longleaf pines sustain a diverse ecosystem than supports such endangered wildlife as the Red-cockaded woodpecker, a species that has not been seen at Congaree in two decades. Regular prescribed burns also help to reduce the build-up of fuel that might burn intensely and destructively in the event of wildfire, causing damage to park resources as well as neighboring property.

During this prescribed burn, the Cedar Creek Canoe Trail will be closed to paddlers from South Cedar Creek landing downstream to the Congaree River. Access to Dawson’s Lake from South Cedar Creek Road will also be closed. All park hiking trails will be open during this time.

Precautions have been taken to minimize impacts to park trails and park neighbors; however, smoke may be seen for several miles and may drift over roads and park trails close to where the burn is taking place.

For up to date information on the prescribed burn, please visit our website at www.nps.gov/cong, or call 803-776-4396. Updates and information are also available through our social media pages: www.facebook.com/CongareeNP and www.twitter.com/CongareeNPS.

Congaree National Park

Congaree National Park is one of 419 National Park Service units preserving the natural and cultural history of the United States for the enjoyment and understanding of future generations. You can learn more about our mission at www.nps.gov, or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice or Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice.