Realizing the potential of the Huron River Corridor begins with restoring the natural beauty of the river from Barton bond to Gallup Pond. The river and accompanying parkland ought to be a destination for all Ann Arborites to enjoy, yet significant amounts of the riverfront are underutilized and overgrown with invasive species such as honeysuckle and buckthorn.

Expanding the Lowertown Conservancy will allow for important maintenance and restoration of natural resources along the Huron River.

One solution to removing invasives is prescribed (or controlled) ecological burning. This process involves scheduled fires to remove dead leaves, brush, and invasive plants. The result is an improved habitat for native animals, recycled nutrients back into the soil, and renewed growth of trees, wildflowers, and other plants. Before settlers arrived in Ann Arbor, native populations regularly burned away dead brush, allowing native plants and animals to thrive.

Prescribed burns are conducted by trained staff and do not pose any harm to people or animals. The emissions from a burn are less than mowing a same-sized site. In fact, research suggests carbon emissions following a burn decrease between 18 to 25 percent on average and up to 60 percent due to increased growth and vegetation

Day of burn

Photos courtesy City of Ann Arbor