Controlled Burn Planned For Manhattan Creek Conservation Area

MANHATTAN, IL - Village officials are planning a controlled burn in Manhattan at some point this month. The burn will take place in the Manhattan Creek Conservation Area, which is south and east of S. Blackthorne Road and Lakeview Drive, west of Eastern Avenue, Abby Lane and Spring Street, north of Prairie Street and east of Route 52 in Manhattan.

The exact date of the burn isn't yet known since controlled burns rely on several outside factors like weather conditions, but village officials said on Facebook that it's not expected to be this week. A news release from V3 Companies, whose professionals will perform the burn, originally set the time frame from March 28 to April 30.

There will be a "quick dispersal of smoke" during the burn, which will take place in a "safe and expeditious manner," according to V3.

Its objective is to "improve the native plant communities by reducing invasive plant species that can invade wetland and prairie areas and degrade them."

Anyone who lives in the area of the burn who is sensitive to smoke or has other concerns should call Keith Jones at 630-729-6207.

Patch file photo / Lorraine Swanson