Sometimes fire is the answer. The National Park Service is turning to a controlled blaze to fight back against invasive plant species in one of Ohio’s favorite natural spaces.
The Akron Beacon Journal reports that officials have plans to conduct a series of prescribed burns in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which stretches from Akron to Cleveland, in the coming months. The burns are meant to take out invasive plant species that have aggressively spread — a problem homeowners know can be a nightmare to deal with. The idea is to restore the native vegetation and improve soil health. And, ironically, this controlled fire approach will actually reduce the risk of uncontrolled wildfires.
Park staff will light up carefully chosen sites, including a 40-acre plot where the Richfield Coliseum once stood and a 129-acre stretch in the Terra Vista Natural Study Area. Smaller burns are planned for Boston Township and the Brookside Wetland near Independence, with brush piles in Peninsula also slated for clearing…