Riparian Management Policy 6 : Consider the role of riparian and wetland conservation for future acquisitions . Certain property acquisitions , such as Community Improvement District ( CID ) lands along Mill and Pond Creeks , are ideal for riparian / wetland conservation and restoration enhancement . Identifying riparian areas within these future acquisitions will enable wetland conservation . Likewise , riparian / wetland conservation as a priority for acquisitions could place riparian conservation into the decision making process for acquiring future Parks properties or for holding conservation easements .
2 . Prescribed Fire
Prescribed fire “ can be defined as a fire applied in a skillful manner to wildland fuels , in a predetermined place , under exacting weather conditions , to achieve specific management objectives ” ( Kentucky Dept . of Fish and Wildlife , 2006 ). These " specific managements objectives " include limiting the spread and / or removal of invasive plant species , improving forest health ( i . e ., burning ground cover to decrease competition ), and simulating natural growth regimes for native species . In Jefferson County , there are different fire regimes related to the different physiographic regions ( Table 5 ) that affect the need for prescribed fire . Only two physiographic regions , the Knob Hills and the Limestone Belt , have a fire regime whereby prescribed fire would be needed to maintain the climax ecological community . These physiographic regions include the natural resource parks of Jefferson Memorial Forest , Cherokee Park , McNeely Lake Park , Iroquois Park , and Waverly Park . It is important to note that the fire regimes described in the scientific literature do not take into account the impact of invasive plant species , ecosystem degradation , and need to reintroduce native grasses , shrubs , and trees ; all instances where frequent prescribed burning is needed to literally transform the ecosystem back to its functioning state . Therefore , prescribed fire may be a necessary management tool for many natural resource properties .
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