| Join us as we talk showcase how prescribed fire is used to restore and manage an exemplary goat prairie in the Driftless Area of southeast Minnesota.
The Driftless Area is a region of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, with a unique geological history that distinguishes it from surrounding regions. It was not subjected to the glacial scouring and deposition of the last ice age so there is a lack of glacial drift, geologic materials left behind by retreating glaciers and deposits left by glacial meltwater streams.
Historically, much of the Driftless Area was characterized by oak woodlands, savannas, and tallgrass prairies, vegetation communities created and maintained through the use of fire by Native Americans. European settlement displaced Native Americans and brought with it a land ethic that largely neglected fire as a useful and important land management tool. The steep slopes of the Driftless region were unable to be farmed but with a lack of fire, woody plants proliferated and most topographically severe portions of the region are now characterized by forests and woodlands. A few remnant bluff prairies persist, especially on south- and west-facing slopes receiving the greatest amount of solar radiation and exposure to summer winds. These bluff prairies are often called goat prairies, perhaps in reference to goats being the livestock most suitable for the steep slopes they’re characterized by.
Restoration and active management of goat prairies is done by a variety of federal and state agencies, NGOs, and private landowners. This field trip will highlight Pleasant Bluff, one of the largest and highest quality goat prairies in southeast Minnesota. The site is privately-owned by landowners with a strong conservation ethic as well as a drive to make the site available for public education and appreciation. Restoration and management of the site has been funded by the landowners and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Restoration program. Most of the work has been carried out by a local contractor with help by The Prairie Enthusiasts, a regional land trust, and other members of the surrounding community.
Location: MAP HERE
The field trip will include discussions about the following:
- The restoration and management objectives that depend on or are enhanced by the use of prescribed fire.
- The challenges and opportunities associated with burning on steep slopes.
- The use of dormant season, early-growing season, and mid- to late-growing season burns.
- How the prescribed fires are conducted largely with hand tools by volunteers with a wide variety of training and experience, and how the site lends itself well to teaching beginners about prescribed fire and helping them gain experience being a prescribed fire crew member.
The preliminary plan is for the field trip to consist of two parts:
- Participants will walk on a gravel driveway and an asphalt county road, both characterized by mild slopes, along the bottom of the site. There will be an opportunity to walk above the road into the site where the slopes are steep and the ground is rocky, in which case sturdy footwear might be advised.
- Participants will be shuttled to the top of the site with UTVs and pickup trucks. From there, they will walk on a trail, characterized by a mild slope, along the top of the site and enjoy expansive views of the surrounding region, including the Upper Mississippi River floodplain. Participants at the top will be shuttled back down to the bottom but they will also have the opportunity to walk down the steep slope through the goat prairie on their own.
What to bring: Participants should bring hydrating liquids and snacks to keep them happy and healthy, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a means of carrying these things for the duration of the field trip.
Contact: Stephen Winter, (402) 310-5460, WintersL8944@gmail.com |
