Smoke by Hwy. 52 is Controlled, Scheduled Burn

Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery is conducting a scheduled burn Thursday to control the buckthorn plant species from spreading in Dakota County’s Pine Bend Bluffs region; motorists on Hwy. 52 may notice smoke during the burn, according to a Goff Public press release.

Both local and state DNR as well as Flint Hills is permitting the burn.

According to the press release, "Buckthorn is a known threat to natural areas such as wetlands, prairies and forests. The invasive species can harm native plants, damage wildlife habitats, and contribute to erosion. Burning is the preferred method of keeping buckthorn from re-invading, and has many other benefits as well."