Mid-Missouri River Prescribed Burn Association
Prescribed burns are a crucial management tool for maintaining healthy grassland ecosystems in the Great Plains. These controlled burns are used to mimic natural wildfires that were once common in these areas. Fire promotes the growth of native grasses and forbs while also reducing spread of invasive plant species such as the Easter Red Cedar. The Mid-Missouri River Prescribed Burn Association focuses on combatting cedar tree encroachment by implementing safe and successful prescribed burns on land along the Missouri River in south-central South Dakota.
MMRPBA Members and Friends,
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The Board of Directors wanted to update all of you on the status of the MMRPBA. Roughly one year ago in April of 2024, the MMRPBA was informed by South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks (GFP) that the 2019 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between GFP and MMRPBA was ending. This MOA allowed the MMRPBA to burn across Title VI GFP state land to the Missouri River, thus allowing the MMRPBA to utilize the Missouri River as fire break when conducting prescribed burns on bordering private lands.
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For the past 12 months the MMRPBA has been in rigorous negotiations with the South Dakota Department of Public Safety (DPS), South Dakota Wildland Fire (SDWF) and South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) to find a solution to this issue. Most scheduled prescribed burns along the Missouri River have been paused due to the inability to separate state and private lands when conducting a burn. In addition to all scheduled prescribed burns on hold, all burn planning along the Missouri River has also been paused. As negotiations continue, we are hopeful that a new agreement can be reached.
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We apologize for not keeping you all better informed as to the status of the MMRPBA. The past 12 months have been very fluid and therefore uncertain. We hope that we will be back to normal operations soon. In the meantime, please consider attending the upcoming live fire burn school on May 20 at Oak Lake Field Station. See the announcement below.
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Thank you again for all your support!
MMRPBA Board of Directors
Training Opportunity!
Important Notice
UPDATE: MMRPBA sets new policy deadline for completing fire breaks
Hard deadline of March 1 in effect for 2025 burns
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Due to the very small window to get prescribed burns done in the spring and fall, the MMRPBA is implementing a new policy on firebreaks for planned burns effective in 2025. A soft deadline of February 1 and a hard deadline of March 1 has been set that all firebreaks must be complete on burn units planned for that year. If firebreaks are not complete, that burn unit will go to the end of the burn list.
It's imperative that landowners have their firebreaks complete and burn units ready to go. Due to unpredictable weather conditions in the spring, the conditions for a burn may meet the prescription with very short notice. Having those firebreaks ready to go will ensure the best chances to complete the burn. If you have any questions on your firebreaks please contact Sean Kelly or any other MMRPBA board member. Thank you for your cooperation. ​
Fire Break Preparation
Live Eastern Red Cedar trees- There must be a minimum of a 150’ wide swath on the internal part of the burn unit (from fire line into the unit) that is free of cedar trees along the entire perimeter of the burn unit. Requiring a 300’ distance, if possible, on the downwind side of the burn unit.
Cutting and Stuffing cedar trees- Cutting and stuffing must not be done within 300’ of the fire line, inside or out.
Red Slash piles- All slash piles must be a least 300’ inside the burn unit, or 200’ outside the unit. Branches and single trees must be at least 100’ from the perimeter of the burn unit, inside or out.
Standing dead cedar trees- All “red” standing dead trees (with dead scales) within 200’ of the burn line, inside or out, must be removed.
Tree mulching near fire line- Trees must not be mulched within 50’ of the fire line, inside or out. Small cedars can be mulched beyond 50’ of the fire line, any cedars above 3’ should be removed to meet the 150’ wide swath requirement.
Mow line- A minimum distance of 20’ mow line with mowed grass thrown to the outside away from standing fuel load to be burned, or swathed and baled.
