Change in Decorah ordinances will now allow woodland fires

Luther College owns 1,000 acres of land in the Decorah area, with 700 of those acres being "natural areas."  College employees manage the prairies and savannas on such land--but until Monday night they were not able to set fire to woodland property to help manage it.

Luther biology professorMolly McNicholl says such fires are a positive force, opening up woodland for more sun to help the trees grow and increasing wildflower diversity.  Such fires, McNicholl told Decorah City Council members, are "very low intensity," so they're a good way to manage the natural areas.

City council members unanimously approved changing city ordinances to add several mentions of "woodland" to burning regulations.  Luther employees--or anyone else interested in a woodland burn--would still have to apply for a permit from City Hall.