Parks and Recreation System Master Plan Update (2016) parks_and_recreation_system_master_plan_update_oct | Page 462

Physiographic Region
Ohio River Valley
Typical Species
Fire Regime
Ecological Benefit
1
Grasses, Black
>200 years (Rare)
Stand replacement;
Willow, River Birch,
very severe fires
Sweetgum, Pin Oak,
River Maple
Knob Hills
Black Maple, White
0-75 years (Frequent) 2 Surface fires;
Oak, Black Oak,
moderate severity
Black Walnut; Mixed
deciduous forest
Slack Water Flats
Sugar Maple, River
>200 years (Rare) 3
Stand replacement;
Maple, grasses;
very severe fires
Bottomland marshes
and forests
Limestone Belt
Black Maple, White
8.4 years 4 to 35 years Maintain openness of
Oak, Sugar Maple,
(Frequent) 5
forests and glades;
walnut, hickory,
moderate severity
White Ash, grass
species
Floyds Fork
Cane, Blue Ash,
>200 years (Rare) 6
Stand replacement;
Black Walnut,
very severe fires
Coffeetree, Bur Oak,
locust; Bottomland
marshes and forests
Table 5. Fire regimes for the physiographic regions of Jefferson County, Kentucky
It is important to note the current paucity in prescribed fire research and knowledge for
the Louisville-Jefferson County metro are and, in general, the commonwealth of Kentucky.
Metro Parks and Recreation has committed itself to using prescribed fire as a management tool.
However, the lack of information on historic fire regimes, historic plant communities, and other
related fire research does limit the effectiveness of any prescribed fire policies spelled out in this
document. Therefore, it is imperative for Metro Parks and Recreation to pursue future research
into this area.
Metro Parks and Recreation began conducting prescribed burns for ecological
management of native grass species in 2004. Due to its success, the example of the April 2004
Iroquois Park (Summit Field) burn was used to create management standards for permitting
burns (Appendix 2). Since then several other prescribed burns have been conducted within
Parks. Iroquois Park is in the Limestone Belt fire regime, whereby prescribed burning is needed
every 8.4 to 35 years to maintain native grasslands and open forests (Table 5). However, in order
1
Olson and Noble, 2005
Olson and Noble, 2005
3
Olson and Noble, 2005
4
Guyette et al, 2003
5
Olson and Noble, 2005
6
Olson and Noble, 2005
2
21