Planned burn in Smoky Mts

[Brushy Sage]

According to the Asheville paper, a planned burn of more than 500 acres in the Smoky Mtn Natl Park is scheduled for Monday, Dec 11, to make conditions more favorable for sustaining the elk herd that has been introduced into the park. www.citizen-times.com

[emerald]

Read it. Quite short. Link is to front page. Look for link to article. May need to have cookies enabled.

Often referred to as a prescribed burn, this type of activity is sometimes employed by resource managers responsible for biological communities that evolved in response to fire. In such areas, it may be incorrect to think of fire-suppression as normal at least as it relates to that particular community since fire is a natural occurance and these biological communities developed in response to it and thus require it to maintain themselves.

[Brushy Sage]

This "prescribed burn" has apparently been cancelled because the forest is too damp. It might or might not be undertaken later, depending on weather conditions.

[Flying Monkey]

Will this have any effects on those trying to hike the park?

[Brushy Sage]

I believe it's slated for the Cataloochee area, so hikers on the AT might see some smoke in the distance, but probably nothing more.

[gollwoods]

they probably are burning the meadow area of cataloochee to supress saplings and shrubs from establishing. my metropark does it alot here to keep the OaK Openings from closing in