May 2025 | After having to reschedule due to poor weather conditions, the prescribed burn in areas F3 and F8 happened a couple weeks ago and it was a pretty thorough burn, here are a few smoke and fire images. We all highly respect the power of fire, and how quickly the plants come back up to seek sun. In many areas you can hardly see evidence of the burn at all just a few weeks later.
Garlic Mustard pull: On April 27, nearly 30 volunteers from ALPA, local high schools, and WMU helped with removal of garlic mustard, an invasive plant, in selected areas of the preserve. This event has been an annual event and is planned again for sometime next spring.
Controlled burn: In May WMU conducted a controlled burn, as they have been doing for many years. Controlled burns are tentatively scheduled to take place in forested management areas F4 and F7 in the spring/summer of 2025. Effort will be made to inform the public of these maintenance projects as the management council continues with restoration of under canopy native planting in the preserve.
Water level drainage problem: Beaver deceiver and water level management efforts continue as maintenance for the continued flow of Big Asylum lake into Little Asylum Lake. The clearing away of vegetation debris has been handle by a few dedicated volunteers and Management crewmembers, if interested in helping with this ongoing maintenance project please contact Tom Sauber. When the deceiver is blocked with debris the lake level rises, which can negatively affect some species nesting along its edge.
Management plan update: The Asylum Lake Preserve Management Council is in the process of updating its management plan for the Preserve. ALPA has been providing input and has prioritized a number of areas it would like to see addressed: water quality improvements, creating a tree buffer along Drake Rd., native species improvements & invasive species mitigations, oak forest management, keystone species balance, community engagement and education,and trail maintenance. Paul McNellis will temporarily take the lead in implementing the plan at this time.
Trail management and erosion: Efforts to control erosion and accommodate the flow of water off of trails have recently been addressed during 2024 and will continue over the next few years as climate deals us more and stronger rain events. You may have noticed the addition of gravel to some trails, which is helping to slow the erosion.
Beaver management, tree wraps: In order to protect young oak trees from being harvested by beavers, a screen protector has been installed on the vulnerable trees around the lake's edge. This will be another ongoing project as each year already wrapped trees will need to have their screen sleeves enlarged to accommodate yearly growth.
Instagram, planned newsletter: ALPA now has its own Instagram account. Follow us @asylum_lake_association for news, happenings, and snapshots of what wildlife is out and about.We will also email a digital newsletter out soon. Check for links on this site under About/Newsletters, on Facebook and Instagram.
Looking for volunteers and stewardship plans: ALPA has been looking into developing a stewardship program, possibly in coordination with WMU. We are hoping to secure a list of potential, dedicated volunteers that would help throughout the year with projects such as: garlic mustard removal, trash and trail cleanup, erosion control, tree and flora plantings preparation and maintenance, beaver damage mitigation efforts, and informative walks. If you are interested in joining us a steward you can volunteer here.
Workday- blight and trash clean-up: Our planned fall cleanup day has been postponed until spring as well, but we encourage any visitors to bring a bag and collect any trash they see as they walk.
Tree planting: ALPA had hoped to have a fall planting project, but due to application of a fall herbicide in the designated areas, it has been postponed until spring.We will keep you posted!
Deer issues, EHD: A number of deer have been found in the Preserve, especially in the lake. They appear to have died from EHD, Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease; symptoms drive the deer to water to drink. The disease is transmitted by midges, and not from deer to deer, or to other animals or humans. Hopefully, favorable conditions for the insect breeding will decrease next year.
Dog leash efforts, fishing reminders: ALPA has been instrumental in providing some signage to remind fishermen to take care and remove all tackle from lake and shore to keep wildlife safe. Also, signs remind dog walkers to keep their pets on a leash to prevent damage to sensitive nesting areas for birds and animals.
Community partners: Some of our Board members recently met informally with The Stewards of Kleinstuck in an effort to coordinate efforts among different groups with similar goals. We are pleased to see the Oakland Drive Winchell Neighborhood Association has joined the MI adopt-a-drain program. Neighbors sign up to clean and monitor storm drains which lead to neighborhood waterways, including Asylum Lake.
Schools and groups using the Preserve: We have been pleased to see schools visiting Asylum Lake. Winchell School fourth-graders recently explored the Preserve to sketch, observe wildlife and enjoy a nature scavenger hunt. A group of students from Mattawan also enjoyed a similar field trip. While groups are welcome and encouraged to visit, please note that WMU requests that you contact them first so that there is no conflict with other groups or work projects.
Engagement with Imagine Kalamazoo 2035 Greenspace and the Environment: Some members of the ALPA board will be meeting with volunteers from other environmental organizations to discuss ways to provide positive feedback and suggestions to the city regarding future planning. We encourage all citizens to provide input as well. Here are some links to those surveys:
Imagine Kalamazoo Imagine It Survey Strategic Goals Survey
April 2, 2021 | WMU recently conducted a prescribed burn in two different areas of the Asylum Lake Preserve. A number of acres of the prairie along Drake Rd. and a smaller section of forest along the southeast side of the lake were set on fire and carefully monitored by Plantwise LLC, a professional crew hired by the Management Council. Local firefighters and volunteers assisted the crews. These burns have been conducted a few times in the Preserve and are a tool to help restore the ecosystems to a more natural state. They help to control invasive species, unwanted weeds, encourage new growth and seed and flower production of native species, as well as welcome new insect and animal species to the area. The burn has been viewed as very successful and new growth can already been seen.
Control burns at Asylum Lake
You’re going to WHAT?
Many people greet the idea that prairies or forests are going to be purposely burned with disbelief, since we’ve been raised to understand that fires kill the valuable plants and animals in a forest or a prairie.
But the fact is that such fires occurred before we became the dominant species on this planet, and these fires actually helped keep the native plants strong.
Now we set fires to burn off invasive species and regenerate the prairie.
But, "prescribed burns" are, in the words of one expert, "rocket science!"
You don’t just go into a forest or onto a prairie and light a match.
Paul MacNellis, retired Director of Landscape Services at WMU and a controlled burn expert, says that such conditions as wind direction and speed, barometric pressure, relative humidity, solar gain, atmospheric mixing – up to 187 factors in some cases – have to be checked out before the go-ahead is given.
The prairie at the western edge of the Preserve has been overdue for a controlled burn, as it is being overwhelmed by invasive species and needs a “clearing out” to allow native plants whose seeds are under the ground to re-sprout. So, a burn is planned for the future. We will inform you of the date when it is set, when the weather conditions are just right
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