On the grounds of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum is Curtis Prairie. Curtis Prairie holds the unique title of being the world’s first prairie restoration. In the late 1920’s the university decided to take on an experiment in hopes of emulating a Midwest prairie for research and display. The history of this project is very important as this was the first prairie restoration and many of the techniques that we use today were learned here.
The first deliberate attempt to reconstruct an ecosystem began in 1933. The University acquired two farms West of the campus for the future arboretum and a 60-acre prairie site was chosen. The original prairie was broken there in 1836 and there were no signs of that prairie remaining. The idea was sprouted from wisconsin botanist Norman Fassett. In 1929 Dr. Theodore Sperry was chosen to direct the effort with the supervision of Aldo Leopold and William Longenecker. Around 200 recruits from the Civil Conservation Corp (CCC) were used to execute three different types of planting. One, was collecting seed from prairie remnants along the Wisconsin River and inserting them into the ground. Another was to grow small seedlings in a nursery setting and plant them individually. The last, and most intensive, was to actually dig up prairie sod from remaining prairies and lay it in place. The results varied greatly as the seasonal timing was not known to be as important as it is today. In 1938, the first prairie plants that survived were blooming on the site. Between 1941 and 1946 John Curtis took over and began focusing on controlled burning in order to control invasive weeds which served to be very useful. He also began to study the effects of seed stratification from seed the he was collecting. Throughout his reign as Arboretum director Curtis began emphasizing the timings of the controlled burns and observed the differences. He continued with his prairie management experiments until his death in 1961. In 1962, the prairie was officially named Curtis Prairie in his honor. The experiments have never stopped. Today, soil scientists are using this site to determine weather soils can return to the pre-settlement health after the return of a prairie. So far the answer is, yes. Many invasive species control studies are carried out here as well studies on hydrology shifts and the creation of buffer zones.
In the 1930’s a newspaper reporter asked Dr. Theodore Sperry how long it would take to complete the restoration, he replied “Roughly a thousand years.” I guess that still holds true. Today, this prairie restoration serves as a testament to the rewards of ecological restoration as a science. Thankfully, we have learned a lot since then and the experimental risks have been greatly reduced, but will never be eliminated. This experiment also reflects the University of Wisconsin and the entire state, as proof of its proggressiveness and its commitment to the environment.
http://uwarboretum.org/about/communities_collections/ UW Arboretum Site
Recently, I read a book of this same title by Curt Meine (Island Press, 2004). The book was about Aldo Leopold and the modern conservation movement. It made me think about correction lines in general and how interesting they are.
In the 1800s land surveyors divided most states west of New England up into squares to organize the land and to make for easier homesteading. The Public Land Survey System was the brainchild of Thomas Jefferson and his plan was for the land to be divided into six-mile square townships and 640 acre parcels of land called sections. This is also why our popular land parcels are in increments of 40 acres, hence “the back forty.” The resulting pattern gives us the checkerboard appearence from above that we see today: a quilt of pastures, cropfields, woodlands and city limits. When the surveyors started laying out these squares they found a problem: The earth is round. Dividing the land into perfect squares is like putting a peice of gridpaper around a tennis ball.
To solve this problem surveyors designated east-west lines as ‘correction lines,’ which occurred every 20-30 miles of latitude moving northward, to compensate for the earth’s curvature. They reoriented themselves along these baselines by shifting slightly east or west and began a straight north/south line again. As they say, ”theory meets reality.”
Here in the Midwest we have some great examples of correction lines. Mostly apparent in flat terrain rather than hilly, these reality checks are still very much with us. Ever wonder why a road comes to a T-intersection just to continue again 100 feet over? How about those strange ‘S’ curves on a seemingly straight road?
Some great examples of correction lines can be found across the entire Wisconsin/Illinois state line. This was chosen as a convenient correction line and today you can view all the way across. The above photo shows two correction lines just North of Scales Mound, IL, at the state line. Another great example is Base Line Rd. which stretches from Kane to Ogle County in Northern Illinois and another Base Line Rd. 28 miles south of that one, which serves as the boundary of 4 counties.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Land_Survey_System Public Land Survey System
Every prairie lover or bird watcher in Northern Illinois has at least heard of Nachusa Grasslands. Nachusa is a true ecological gem for Illinois. It serves as the flagship project in the Midwest for The Nature Conservancy and has set the benchmark for a volunteer network that now stewards its thousands of acres.
The story goes that it started in the early 80’s when famous prairie preservers Doug and Dot Wade were birding down the country roads of Lee County and heard a bird song that sounded like the Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda). When they got out they discovered acres of undisturbed prairie. Immediately, preservation efforts began and The Nature Conservancy bought its first parcels in 1985.
Since then, land ownership has increased to over 2,500 acres that contain several different ecosytems including sand boils and woodlands as well as numerous rare plants, birds and insects. In fact, the first insect reintroductions have taken place here. The Checkerspot Butterfly was transplanted from habitats that were being lost to development and brought to Nachusa where they can monitor its survivability. The Nature Conservancy has been very creative with its donations. They have started corporate sponsorship of new purchases. Today, we have The Tellabs Savanna, named after the large telecommunications conglomerate which donated the dollars for the new tract. An onsite seed harvesting operation was completed a few years ago which helps restore the new acres which are continually being added. In the future a herd of Bison may be brought back to the Illinois prairie here.
Nachusa Grasslands is located Northeast of Dixon and South of Oregon, IL. An information kiosk is located off of Lowden Rd. You can also visit the restored grist mill at the Franklin Creek Natural Area just south of Nachusa. Volunteer stewards lead nature walks through the preserve monthly and many events happen there throughout the year.
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/illinois/preserves/art1116.html Nature Conservancy Site
http://www.bwcvb.com/component/option,com_magazine/func,show_article/id,6/Itemid,36/ Detailed Directions and Description
http://www.nature.org/magazine/autumn2007/features/ Article on Volunteer Steward - Jay Stacy
The Wisconsin State Journal published an article on August 9, about the trend of converting high maintenance turf grass areas into prairies on large corporate campuses. Some of the Madison, WI area’s largest corporations doing just that include American Family Insurance, Alliant Energy and SACO Foods. The article cited the usual benefits, such as bio-diversity and habitat, but also noted that the appeal most often comes down to saving money and the overall bottom line.
Steve Cohan of Full Compass, headquartered in Middleton, WI said the company recouped its initial investment in the first three years due to reduction of turf maintenence. The company spent 30 percent more on the initial prairie installation when compared to turf grass costs but they liked the long-term benefit. Cohan said, “There is something really interesting about having this environment right outside your window. You can look literally four feet out your window and see a hawk in a tree. That’s something you don’t get with a traditional office building with traditional shrubs and a parking lot.”
The Chicago area has been naturalizing its corporate campuses for over a decade now. Some of the most notable projects include: Tellabs, Underwriters Laboratories, Nicor Gas, Prairie Stone Business Park, BP Amoco, WW Grainger and Abbott Labs. Openlands, a conservation organization founded in 1963, established The Corporatelands Program in 2003 to assist businesses with converting from traditional high maintenance landscapes to low maintenence landscapes that utilize prairies and native plants. They host workshops for facility managers to attend and explain the how-tos.
As with many new ideas and products, it is the goverment and corporations that lead the way into making concepts mainstream. Hopefully, we will see this trend continue to trickle down to the private sector.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/index.php?ntid=204983 Wisconsin State Journal Article
http://www.openlands.org/corporatelands.asp Corporatelands Program
Yesterday, August 14th Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich, signed two important bills into legislation. Both bills promote conservation in Illinois.
House Bill 1300 creates the Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force. The Task Force will be managed by the Department of Agriculture and will be responsible for developing plans to expand the accessibility of Illinois-grown and organic foods. Specifically, the task force will identify farmland preservation opportunities and train and develop programs for conventional farmers. In addition, it will provide financial and technical support for those entering the industry and help expand development of fresh food markets in under-served communities. The state hopes this will allow for fresh produce to be made available to the inner-city and revitalize weakened rural economies. House Bill 1300 was sponsored by Sate Representative Julie Hamos (D-Evanston) and State Senator Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago). HB 1300 goes into effect immediately.
House Bill 1780 extends the sunset date for the popular Conservation 2000 (C2000) program from 2009 to 2021. It was also renamed Partners for Conservation. Since 1996 the ‘C2000′ program has helped restore 90,000 acres of natural areas, reduced soil erosion by implementing conservation tillage programs and educated one million citizens on the importance of the environment. It has been one of the most succussful programs in the state of Illinois during the past quarter century. It was sponsored by State Representative Dan Reitz (D-Sparta) and State Senator Linda Holmes (D-Plainfield). HB 1780 will go into effect January 1, 2008.
There is no Illinois citizen participating in conservation who has not been involved with a C2000 Grant in some way and the promotion of a strong organic food market in Illinois is long overdue. These two bills make waiting for a state budget to pass just a bit more bearable.
Just a few miles South of Thomson, IL, and a few miles North of Fulton, IL, is the appropriately named Thomson-Fulton Sand Prairie Nature Preserve. Thomson-Fulton is a 212-acre sand prairie that is a great representation of typical Illinois sand prairies. It also serves as a great alternative to those who cannot gain access to The Savanna Army Depot.
Thomson-Fulton has great plant diversity and looks different each time I visit. Being the vegetation is sparce and short, it makes for an easy walk. Reptile lovers may find this prairie particularly interesting as snakes and lizards are found in great numbers. The six-lined-racerunner (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus) are in very healthy numbers here. The state record Bullsnake, Plains Hognose Snake and Eastern Garter Snake were all recorded here in 1997. This prairie serves as a great area for ecological study by scientists from both Illinois and Iowa.
Thomson-Fulton is highly reccomended prairie to visit. It is located west of route 84, 1.25 miles North of Lock Rd.
http://dnr.state.il.us/INPC/Directory/Sitefiles/Area1/thowh.htm
It has been announced that the 21st North American Prairie Conference will be held in Winona, MN on August 4-8, 2008. The NAPC is held every other year and its locations have varied from Ontario, Canada to Texas but is usually held somewhere in the Midwest. Next year will be the first time that it will be held in the Driftless Area. The NAPC is a great resource for everyone from the hobbyist to the professional. There are a wide variety of topics to learn about and some great field trips to attend.
The first NAPC was originally called The Symposium on Prairies and Prairie Restoration and was held on September 14 and 15, 1968 at Knox College in Galesburg, IL, organized by prairie pioneer Peter Schramm. This symposium morphed into the Midwest Prairie Conference and became the North American Prairie Conference in 1978. A lot has changed since its humble begginings in 1968.
I attended the 2004 NAPC in Madison, WI and found it very rewarding. Mark your calenders to head to Winona State University next August.
One of the great benefits to living in Northwest Illinois is its access to great natural areas. Some very fine remnant ecosystems are within a leisurely drive. I would like to introduce Spring Green Prairie Preserve. Located just North of Spring Green Wisconsin, this 260 acre tract offers many unusual sights for the plant, bird, reptile, and insect lover.
Known locally for generations as “The Wisconsin Desert” this is a dry and sandy prairie with an upland savanna. The area is owned together by the Wisconsin DNR and The Nature Conservancy with management being performed by the latter. It was designated as a state natural area in 1972. Restoration efforts have been ongoing since and from observations made on my visit, they will continue for a while. At the prairie one can view dozens of rare plants, birds, insects and maybe see a lizard.
A trip to Spring Green Prairie can be done in conjunction with viewing Taliesin, the Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece. Taliesin is located just South of Spring Green. Viewing Taliesin and Spring Green Prairie together is a wonderful way to view prairie style architecture and prairies themselves. You cannot help but notice how the surrounding landscapes were integrated into Wright’s design.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/sna/sna102.htm Spring Green Prairie Preserve http://www.taliesinpreservation.org/ Taliesin
At month’s end today all reporting stations in the area reported more than average rainfall totals. The reports varied greatly as there were lots of isolated thunderstorms that produced heavy rains. The reporting station in Dubuque, IA recorded the highest amount with 8.84 inches, far more than the 3.73 inch normal. The Galena Territory reported 4.03 inches with 2.16 inches of that falling on the 17th and 18th, Mt. Carroll reported 6.09 inches and Stockton reported 3.40 inches for the month. Looks like the reporting station on Bethel Road near Stockton missed some of the soaking rains.
The temperature average was one degree cooler than normal. After a dry May we have caught up to near average precipitation for the year. After being dryer than normal for the past five years, lets hope that this continues.
