Duck Lake Fire Recovery and Regeneration, One Year Later

If it weren’t for the blackened pine tree silhouettes still scattered across the landscape of the area that burned just over a year ago, one would not know that such a devastating fire had occurred. As I visited some of the same areas as last year, it was difficult to get the same exact position and angle for pictures. Larger trees have been removed, so the land marks used a year ago for photo monitoring are gone. Most of the area is covered in a lush green of bracken fern, grasses, blueberry and flowering plants. Hardwood trees that seemed to be killed by the fire are regenerating with new growth from the base. Pine trees are popping up all over as seedlings. Jack Pines need the heat of the fire to open their cones and release the seeds to the soil below. As can be expected this is a bumper year for blueberries in the burned over area. Some are small but many are of good size for wild berries and very tasty.

Pine Seedlings

Wetlands and lakes that were dry and burned over a year ago once again have water in them and are flourishing. Many shallow wet depressions in the midst of dry barren pine areas are yellow with goldenrod as well as with the grasses and sedges in abundance. Sundews, pitcher plants, cotton grass and many other species have reemerged.

Swamp Lakes Area

We often look at the devastation left behind by wildfires, but forget that fire is a natural purging and regenerative tool. As already mentioned some plant species need fire to release their seeds or start germination. Fire cleans the landscape of fallen or felled trees and as it moves across the landscape, fire helps to release nutrients tied up in old plant material and litter on the forest floor. In prairies fire helps keep out non-prairie plants and maintains the system. As one walks through the fire zone we see an abundance of new growth and life emerging from the ashes and will continue to see this area grow into a lush environment. The bottom line is that this area is probably healthier than the surrounding areas that have not been burned.