Prescribed burn planned Friday for 90 acres of Henning Conservation Area near Branson

If you see smoke in the Branson area on Friday, it's probably not the new Fire in the Hole ride at Silver Dollar City.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is planning a prescribed burn March 1 on 90 acres of MDC's Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area on the west side of Branson. The purpose of the burn is to restore and rejuvenate glades located on the area.

Prescribed burn plans for the Henning Conservation Area were prepared and approved in advance of the burns, according to department press release. The plan identifies specific weather conditions needed to accomplish the burn in a safe and effective manner.

"One of the vital parts of that burn plan is cooperative weather, and we don’t know that for certain until only a day or so before the burn takes place," MDC Media Specialist Francis Skalicky said in an email. "Hence the short notice."

What are glades, and why do they need burning?

Glades are thin-soiled, rocky, open areas that usually occur in forests. The lack of deep soil in a glade, along with the resulting lack of retained moisture, creates a unique habit best suited for grasses, wildflowers, and animals that thrive in dry conditions. Glades make up about 365 acres of the 1,534 total acres of the Henning Conservation Area.

Prescribed burns can help stimulate the growth of native grasses and wildflowers, which are beneficial to wildlife. These native plants need full sunlight to grow, and fire can prevent the encroachment of woody species — such as cedar trees — into glade areas.

"It is therefore necessary to conduct prescribed burns periodically, under specific weather conditions, to maintain these glade areas for wildlife," the release says. "The areas green up quickly with new vegetation following the burns."

For more information about the prescribed burn project, contact MDC Resource Forester Stephen Short in the Branson Forestry Office at (417) 334-3324. You can also contact Paul Johnson, MDC regional resource management district supervisor, at (417) 895-6880.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Prescribed burn planned for Henning Conservation Area in Branson