Conservation Halton completes prescribed burn near William Halton Parkway

By Laura Steiner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Milton Reporter Lakeshore News Reporter

Conservation Halton’s restoration staff completed a prescribed burn near the William Halton Parkway extension over Sixteen Mile Creek. After weeks of monitoring weather conditions, the burn was finished within two to three hours.

The prescribed burn was aimed at removing invasive plant species and promoting the regeneration of rare understory plants beside the parkway extension, benefiting species at risk in Ontario.

This controlled, low-severity fire effectively removed ground-level fuels like dried leaves and twigs without harming more giant trees. The burn followed a conservation practice widely used to control non-native invasive species and to encourage the growth of native plants such as oak, hickory, and various grassland species. As planned, the area was expected to support abundant wildflower blooms in the summer and to attract more birds and pollinators, including the endangered Mottled Duskywing butterfly.

Residents near the William Halton Parkway had been informed of the burn by mail, with notifications planned for the media in the event of any weather-related changes or cancellations.