Updated status is delayed: Asylum Lake Preserve to undergo a woodland burn April 8

Note: Weather conditions cut the scheduled woodland burn short, and it will be completed on a yet-to-be determined date.

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Ongoing efforts will launch Tuesday, April 8, at Western Michigan University's Asylum Lake Preserve to actively manage the nature preserve for research, education, passive recreation and ecological health.

Portions of Asylum Lake Preserve toward the middle and east will undergo a prescribed woodland burn. The prescribed burn will begin at approximately 3 p.m. and last for three hours. Signage will be in place, alerting visitors to not enter the burn areas. Section F3 and F8 identified on the preserve map will be affected.

The parking lot on Parkview Avenue will also be closed starting at 2:30 p.m., and will open later in the evening. 

Due to specific weather conditions required for a safe burn, including air temperature below 60°F, humidity above 40% and wind speeds between 5 to 15 m.p.h., the exact burn date was announced shortly in advance.

Since 2000, small parcels have been intentionally burned in the 274-acre Asylum Lake Preserve, which is owned and managed by WMU and overseen by the Asylum Lake Policy and Management Council. They took place in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2024.

Learn more about Asylum Lake Preserve online.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.