Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Press Release

February 18, 2015

Whitney Carleton
whitney.carleton@parks.ny.gov

Ganondagan State Historic Site to Conduct Prescribed Burn

(Victor, NY) - The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) proposes conducting a prescribed burn at Ganondagan State Historic Site to aid in the invigoration of the site's Grassland Management Area, a visual interpretive area near the intersections of School and Boughton Hill Roads.

The burn will serve to restore grassland communities; enhance the interpretive value by restoring the biodiversity of plant and wildlife species to what may have been present at the site during the Seneca's historic period of occupation; and help to foster understanding of sustainable landscape management practices by providing an example for similar programs that promote grassland maintenance by natural means. By restoring the historic plant and wildlife species that once thrived in the area, suitable habitat for the many native grassland plants and animals will increase.

A burn window will be established beforehand, but the exact burn date has not yet been determined due to specific weather requirements. A qualified burn boss (RXB2) will lead the burn, with several trained crew members, local fire departments, police and emergency personnel available. The burn will be completed within one day over a proposed maximum of 20 acres.

An informational meeting for the public is being held on Thursday, February 19 at 7p.m. at the Victor Town Hall, 80 E. Main St. Victor, NY. If interested in attending, please contact Whitney Carleton at Whitney.Carleton@parks.ny.gov.

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