Projects and News

South Dakota

Big Sioux River Watershed Project

As of April, 2008 there now are five conservation easements under the Big Sioux River Conservation Easement Program ("BSRCEP"). The easement areas are in Hamlin, Brookings and Codington Counties. Further, there are a number of active applications and there continues to be inquiries about the program and referrals from individuals, agencies, and organizations.

The BSRCEP, formed a partnership with East Dakota Water Development District, seeks to preserve and enhance water quality of the Big Sioux River and major tributaries. Landowners are provided with financial incentives to voluntarily agree to restrict certain land uses which may be harmful to the waterways.

The program can be coordinated with federal programs which also seek to protect riparian areas. If a federal contract with the USDA's Farm Service Agency is in place prior to finalizing an easement under the BSRCEP, the landowner can schedule annual payments through the contract with FSA, and obtain a lump-sum payment at the time of signing a BSRCEP conservation easement.

While both the BSRCEP and the federal programs have their own requirements, the programs have been coordinated with each other in the past and will continue to be coordinated together in the future.

East Dakota's 319 Grant offers additional programs such as upgrades of animal waste management systems, riparian area management, cost-sharing for fencing and alternate water supplies, and follow-up assessment to determine effectiveness of the programs.

For more information, please contact Northern Prairies at 605-339-3184, or East Dakota and 605-688-6741.


$1,000,000 Grant for Harvey Dunn Grassland Preservation Project

On September 12, 2007, Northern Prairies Land Trust was awarded a $1,000,000 grant through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act for the Harvey Dunn Grassland Preservation Project.

This Project is a unique partnership involving Federal and State governmental agencies, private organizations, and everyday citizens, all working together to ensure protection of the tallgrass prairie, one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. The focus area of the project is the Harvey Dunn Homestead and surrounding areas in Brookings and the Kingsbury Counties, SD. Grassland and wetland easements will be purchased and held by US Fish and Wildlife Service. By acting as the grant sponsor and administrator, Northern Prairies will save approximately 17% of grant funds which are normally withheld by federal agencies for administrative costs (in this case, $170,000).

In addition, the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Department provided almost $1 million in matching funds, Pheasants Forever supplied $35,000, and landowners granted bargain sales of conservation easements. The South Dakota Art Museum, where the Harvey Dunn art collection is on display, played a major role in obtaining permission from the Harvey Dunn family for exclusive rights to reproduce "The Prairie Trail". Each sale of this print will protect one acre of tallgrass prairie and wetlands.

       



Bringing Back the Tallgrass Prairie
In an effort to preserve, enhance and restore the remaining tracts of tallgrass prairie in eastern South Dakota, Northern Prairies Land Trust has been working with private landowners in the region, promoting the use of a variety of tools: conservation easements; rotational grazing systems; native grass seeding; wetland restoration; and development of small multi-purpose ponds.

Conservation easements provide an effective way to preserve land in a manner consistent with the landowners’ wishes.  Generally, these voluntary agreements outline the future uses which are allowable with respect to a specific piece of property.  It is possible to obtain significant income tax benefits for the landowners under the proper circumstances.  Conservation easements can also be used to purchase certain land use rights, on a voluntary basis, to achieve an important public goal, such as preservation of tallgrass prairie or protection and enhancement of water quality.

Northern Prairies provides technical assistance to landowners and works with various partners to obtain cost-share for habitat improvement projects.  Assistance is available in the following ways:

  • Small multipurpose ponds (wetland creations) - 67%
       (Subject to a 30 year agreement)
  • Wetland restoration - 100% 
  • Fencing for rotational grazing, (materials only) - 100%, not to exceed $20 per acre
  • Water Development (dugouts, pipelines, water tanks) - 50%
  • Grass seeding (seed cost only) - 100%, up to $58 per acre   
        (Subject to a 10 year agreement)

 
In recent years we have come to realize that this once great prairie, which has been reduced to scattered remnants, contains highly nutritious grasses and plants that are capable of increasing production, improving soil conditions and enhancing plant diversity under proper range management practices. The result can be enhanced native habitat and increased forage capacity for livestock. 

For more information on conservation easements and habitat
improvement projects contact Jim Madsen, 605 3rd Ave. NW,
Watertown, SD, or call 605-882-5250 or e-mail at jimmadsen@iw.net


New Role for Northern Prairies
Northern Prairies Land Trust is continuing to look for innovative ways to work with private landowners and private and public organizations.  A number of recent opportunities have resulted in the potential to team up with other organizations in a new role and save both land and money in the process.

Northern Prairies has co-sponsored a number of grants with state and federal agencies with Northern Prairies acting as the fund administrator for the grant.  Typically, this sponsorship results in substantial savings due to lower administration costs which in turn allows more money to flow into on-the-ground projects protect native habitat, water quality, and farm and ranch land.

 


Nebraska

Nebraska Programs Spring into Action

Nebraska Landowners Incentive Program
In conjunction with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Northern Prairie sponsors 3 offices in Nebraska.  The Commission must identify priority areas, and then devise programs to assist at-risk species of plants and animals that are listed on the state or federal threatened or endangered species list. The program began in 2002 and Northern Prairies is continuing to work with Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to develop new opportunities throughout the shortgrass prairie, sandhills and Middle Niobrara areas of Nebraska.


Beatrice, NE
In January 2008, the Northern Prairie's office in Beatrice cosponsored the Fourth Annual Tallgrass Prairie Management Seminar, as a joint venture with the Nebraska Tallgrass Prairie Partnership.  There were presentations by local landowners, representatives from The Nature Conservancy and University of Nebraska, Lincoln, as well as Northern Prairies’ employees Jarren Kuipers and Kent Pfeiffer.  The topics included history of the prairie, management of grazing systems, control of red cedars, and best management practices for invasive range plans and increasing tallgrass prairie heterogeneity.

A Wild Turkey Federation grant was received for the purpose of placing prescribed burning equipment, for landowner use, at two local fire stations.  Projects which are planned for the near future include: tree clearing; prescribed burning; fencing and water development for rotational grazing; planting of native prairie plots; slough and wetland restoration; and other projects, usually on a cost-share basis.

The office has submitted a grant application for a Private Stewardship Grant which will potentially provide project dollars to be used in the Sandstone Prairie region of Nebraska, and developed a Nebraska Natural Legacy flagship proposal for biologically unique landscapes (BULs) in southeast Nebraska. Development of the flagship proposals will assist to evaluate additional needs in the current tallgrass work and review how to better engage the communities in the BULs, and existing conservation organizations.

 

Royal, NE
On August 30, 2006, the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project partners hosted a prescribed fire workshop for all those interested in utilizing prescribed burns.  The workshop was held at scenic Niobrara State Park near Niobrara, Nebraska and was very well attended, with over 50 landowners, land managers, local citizens, and resource professionals in attendance. 

The workshop focused on all aspects of prescribed burning including purposes, planning, safety and hazards, equipment, techniques, and economics.  Although much of the workshop was conducted inside, everyone was able to get outside and get their hands on the equipment used for burning.  A group of landowners that already use prescribed fire brought in some farm-made equipment for other landowners to view.  The workshop was wrapped up with a demonstration burn conducted on Niobrara State Park by NE Game and Parks Commission biologists.  Although the burn was small, it was a great way for participants to visualize all the concepts presented and to see the proper methods for prescribed burns. 

Nebraska Natural Legacy Project
Northern Prairies Land Trust has partnered with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to hire a biologist for the Verdigre-Brazile Watershed Project under the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project. The project is a historic effort to conserve the state's fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, plants and their habitats. It was adopted in September 2005 by the commission, and late last year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service formally approved Nebraska's plan, a requirement for the state to continue receiving about $800,000 annually in federal funds.
The project identifies 40 biologically unique landscapes in Nebraska and the species that rely on each. "In the Verdigre Creek and Bazile Creek watersheds, one of the identified landscapes in northeast Nebraska, reducing cedar trees represented a project that appeals to both landowners and conservationists because of their threat to grasslands" said Scott Wessel, Private Land Wildlife Biologist for the commission.


Valentine, NE
The Middle Niobrara River Valley Biologically Unique Landscape (BUL) is in District II of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's flagship project, near Valentine Nebraska. It encompasses the "biological crossroads of the Great Plains," where eastern deciduous forest elements meet western coniferous forest, northern boreal forest (represented mostly by paper birch), northern mixed grass prairie, and Sandhills mixed grass prairie.  Even some tallgrass prairie species like Indian grass, big bluestem, and switchgrass occur on the sub-irrigated floodplain.  It is also a zone of hybridization for some eastern and western bird species. The near elimination of natural wildfire and subsequent eastern red-cedar invasion has lead to a number of at-risk species in the region.

Most projects are in various stages of development, but it is likely all involve some mechanical cedar removal and prescribed burning.  At-risk species that are expected to benefit from removing cedars from mostly wooded communities are Bell's vireo, regal fritillary butterfly, long-bract green orchid, wild sarsaparilla, and Iowa moonwort.  Some projects may open up riverine habitats and encourage use by whooping cranes and nesting piping plover.  Cedar removal projects have been readily embraced by landowners, although some are reluctant to use fire.  We expect to have a burn in the Spring of 2008.

Lewis and Clark Site Now Protected
The "Old Baldy" landmark near Lynch, NE, a site visited by the Lewis and Clark expedition in September, 1804, is now protected from development. Northern Prairies Land Trust (NPLT) has entered into an agreement with the landowners to enroll 524 acres of land surrounding the landmark into a conservation easement.
"The easement gives the land trust authority to preserve the present rangeland, and forever protects it from subdivision or conversion to non-agricultural uses. The family still owns and can graze the land" said John Davidson, NPLT President. Some of the area adjacent to "Old Baldy" along the Missouri River has already been subdivided for private development.
"Old Baldy" for "The Tower," is the where Lewis and Clark captured a prairie dog and sent it back to President Thomas Jefferson. The site is currently mixed grass prairie and burr oak woodlands, and home to bald eagles, sharptail grouse, prairie chicken, elk and, of course, prairie dogs. Partners in the effort to preserve this site include the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Nebraska Environmental Trust. This is the first site in NE to be enrolled him in the new federal Farm and Ranchland Protection Program.

Snake River Canyon - Private Ownership, Lasting Preservation

The beautifully unique Snake River Canyon is now protected through a conservation easement granted by Dr. Cleve Trimble to Northern Prairies Land Trust. 

The Snake River Canyon is an exclusive land formation not found elsewhere in the State of Nebraska.  The easement provides an opportunity to preserve an historical land area of great archaeological and paleontological significance.  Approximately 3900 fossil specimens have been collected from the area and are now housed at the Museum of Natural History in New York City.  The Canyon also contains distinctive geologic formations useful to the scientific study of the natural history of the region.

The exceptional characteristics of the Canyon have been featured in National Geographic and Smithsonian publications.

The Snake River is a "blue-ribbon" trout stream providing significant natural habitat for fish, wildlife and plant communities, particularly brown and rainbow trout, and the ecosystem which supports them.  The River is fed in large part by natural springs and is a tributary into the Niobrara River system, which is recognized as a "Wild and Scenic" river under federal and state law.

The easement also includes an open prairie consisting of a mixture of native grasses, forest, and rolling dunes that provide habitat for a variety of species of plants and wildlife.

Northern Prairies began working with Dr. Trimble back in 2001 in an effort to secure preservation of this wonderful area.  The easement, which was finalized on December 26, 2006, is result of the dedicated efforts of a number of individuals over the years