Hellbranch Meadows Controlled Burn

Earlier this month, MAD Scientist Associates had the opportunity to manage a controlled burn for the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District at the Hellbranch Meadows site in Galloway, Ohio. This area is part of the historic Darby-Plains, which was managed through fire and other human intervention to keep an open prairie-savannah habitat versus forest. This was beneficial for grazing animals and diversity of plant types and communities. 

This site took expert level planning to sustain the fire and keep it going in the right direction. Our team, led by Alexys Nolan and Cody Wright, worked the burn for nearly six hours. The footage of the burn at twilight is truly remarkable. We look forward to seeing how this area comes back to life next year!

The goal is for this 50+ acre area to establish as a diverse prairie with a combination of tall grasses, forbs (flowering plants), and scattered trees. The complexity of these ecosystems draws wildlife of many forms- pollinators, birds, grazing mammals, and innumerable other insects and arthropods. It also serves as a fantastic buffer for the Hellbranch stream and tributaries. 

For more photos, check out our blog post!