GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK — In an attempt to stay ahead of fire season, Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) will be initiating a prescribed burn near Mormon Row later this week, if conditions allow.
Starting as early as Thursday, April 9, GTNP will start the planned fire treatment east of Blacktail Butte and south of Mormon Row, between Gros Ventre and Antelope Flats roads. According to a Tuesday announcement from GTNP, the burn will primarily target areas consisting of invasive grasses and noxious weeds. The area of the prescribed burn is about 196 acres and is part of a larger 4,000-acre Hayfields Restoration Management Area. This effort aims to restore inactive hayfields in GTNP to native vegetation.
“Removing non-native vegetation will also benefit wildlife, such as bison, elk, pronghorn, sage-grouse, and songbirds, and will reduce fuels near historic park structures in case of a wildfire,” GTNP wrote in a statement. “In collaboration with park vegetation ecologists, fire managers will use prescribed fire to prepare for future herbicide applications, which supports the long-term transition from non-native grasses back to native rangeland species.”
The prescribed fire is expected to take one day, and there are no planned closures for the area. GTNP stated that park staff could pause traffic briefly to allow firefighters to work along the road, if necessary. Smoke from the fire will likely be visible during the day of the burn. Every effort will be made to minimize smoke impacts on visitors and the area’s residents, per GTNP. The timing of the prescribed fire will depend on favorable burning conditions, like weather and other factors. To monitor air quality and smoke impacts in the park, visit AirNow.
This hayfield restoration is part of a larger project of site improvement in the Mormon Row Historic District that plans to honor the site history and create a safe, accessible and immersive visitor experience.
