Nebraska
8 easements for 4,100+ acres in conservation
In 2002, Northern Prairies Land Trust entered into a cooperative relationship with the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission to implement habitat improvement projects on privately owned prairies. Our initial work was focused on areas that are now called the Sandstone Prairies Biologically Unique Landscape (BUL) and Southeast Prairies BUL in southeast Nebraska. We subsequently extended our prairie-focused work to the Verdigris-Bazile, the Middle Niobrara River Valley, and Keya Paha Watershed BULs in northeast Nebraska. Over the past fifteen years, using funding from a series of successful NPLT grant proposals to the Nebraska Environmental Trust combined with funding from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, we have worked with over 300 landowners to enhance nearly 90,000 acres of grassland, primarily through implementation of invasive tree clearing, prescribed fire, planned grazing and high diversity seeding. Starting in 2009, we also began to focus some of the effort on the oak woodlands that rim the eastern side of Nebraska. Similar to prairies, oak woodlands and savannas have experienced massive declines over the past century. Their remnants are degrading due to the lack of appropriate management. We are spearheading large-scale restoration efforts at Ponca State Park and Indian Cave State Park involving prescribed fire and invasive species control. In addition, we have completed more than two dozen habitat improvement projects on over 5,000 acres of privately owned oak woodlands.
Nebraska Environmental Trust Projects
Eastern Cedars Thinning on Prairies
A major problem on Nebraska's native prairie lands is the invasive Eastern Cedar. This tree was introduced because it is hardy and provides good cover in shelter belts. Unfortunately, it likes to spread out through the open prairie, crowding out native grasses and eliminating livestock forage. Cedar trees can be successfully removed, allowing restoration of the native prairie plants.
Restoring Oak Woodlands
A similar problem is occurring in the hills and draws of Nebraska, where native Burr Oak trees are being crowded out by non-native invasive plants. Once again, combining human power and machines removes the invasive plants and allows the native species to flourish.
Public Education and Meetings
Interacting with the public to provide information or new perspectives is essential in starting and maintaining conservation programs. These interactions range from more formalized education meetings on important topics, such as managing grasslands for wildlife habitat and livestock forage, to freestyle and innovative workshops introducing new ideas. The photos below are from a workshop for educators designed to introduce new ideas to help get our younger generation back to the outdoors.
Prescribed Burns
Using prescribed burns to control invasive species in prairies and woodlands and rejuvenate native plants has proven to be a valuable tool and is increasing in use. While Northern Prairies does not conduct prescribed burns, we assist landowners by helping them organize cooperatives so they can carry out the burns themselves and providing some of the tools necessary for the burn to be conducted safely and efficiently. Our office in Royal, Nebraska, is assembling a "burn trailer" with all the supplies landowners need to complete the prescribed burns. Our offices in Beatrice and Valentine have also been very active in providing workshops and equipment for landowners.
Conservation Easements Maintain a Legacy
Fairbury, NE – Cattle will be grazing on the prairie hills southwest of Fairbury, Nebraska, for generations to come thanks to landowners interested in preserving the land for their family. In July of 2012, Jim and Ann McCord granted a 1043 acre perpetual conservation easement to Northern Prairies Land Trust that would prohibit cropping and development, yet maintain the property as a working cattle ranch.
While the McCord property retains its value as a cattle pasture under the easement, it is also a precious natural resource in its own right. Native pastures in this area represent some of the most expansive examples of tallgrass prairie remaining in North America. Consequently, the prairies, oak woodlands, and wetlands that comprise the grazing lands of Jefferson and Thayer Counties have been designated as a high priority for conservation work under the Nebraska Natural Legacy Plan. These pastures, and the many species of plants and wildlife that depend on them, owe their survival to the thoughtful stewardship of families like the McCords.
By granting the easement to Northern Prairies Land Trust, the McCords have assured the continuation of a ranching legacy, while also protecting water resources, native prairie, and wildlife habitat.
Funding has been provided in part by a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust for work on private lands in southeast Nebraska, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Landowner Incentive Program. These efforts assist private landowners with affecting landscape-level change in southeast Nebraska for the benefit of a broad spectrum of wildlife species and their habitats.