The City of Chanhassen manages 5 different prairie sites throughout the city. The maintained locations include Bluff Creek Prairie, The Preserve Prairie, Century Boulevard Prairie, the West Water Treatment Plant and the HWY 61 Roundabout. The city contracts out the maintenance for these sites, which includes an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to control weed species within developing native landscapes.

One maintenance technique is a prescribed burn. A prescribed burn is a controlled burn used to replicate natural and historical fire events. Benefits of a prescribed burn include: controlling the spread of invasive species, stimulating the growth of native prairie species and recycling nutrients back into the soil.

 

In Spring 2026, the City of Chanhassen is contracting with Prairie Restorations, and two sites will undergo a prescribed burn: Bluff Creek Prairie and The Preserve Prairie.