The American prairie has provided sustenance and shelter to people in the southern Great Plains for thousands of years. However, few areas are currently protected and many have been fundamentally altered by past human use. By restoring the native plants, animals, and processes of the prairie, we restore the natural heritage that has shaped our cultural heritage. In 2008 five national parks in the National Park Service's Southern Plains Inventory and Monitoring etwork (Southern Plains Network) began working together on prairie res­ toration projec . For these efforts, the network works with partners, other parks, and peci · t ro build on existing knowledge and to share resources, successes, and lessons learned within the National Park Service, local communities, and the region. ~~~~~~~~~~~~--~~~- -~~~"""'-'~~~~=---.----=~~

What is restoration? The aoal of ecological restoration is to return an anthropogenically altered ecosystem to its "natural state." Restored ecosystem help restore important ecological services, such a cleaning air and water, cooling and reduction of greenhouse gases, and maintaining biodiver ·ry. Restoration can repair damage to an ecosy tern but also improve the lives of humans by renewing ecemomic opportunities and rejuvenating tradition l cultural practices. Restoration can be achievefci in many ways, some­ times by connecting the d ~unaged ecosystem to the larger landscape, repairing processes, or involving stakeholders.

Prescribed fire was used to restore this savanna in central Texas. Before (top left), during (top right and bottom left), and after (bottom right) prescribed fire. Why are native species Native plant species- vegetation that evolved with penetrate the ground and replenish aquifers. After a Why does so little prairie Agricultural conversion, overgrazing, and fire transitioned to ownership by large corporate agri­ important? and adapted to local freezing, drought, common fire, new growth sprouts from the roots and attracts remain intact? suppression have fundamentally altered North businesses, which converted large tracts of land to diseases, and herbivores outside the sphere of hu­ native grazing animals, which were hunted by early American prairie systems. Prior to European settle­ monocultures (single crop). man influence-provide key ecological servi es Americans. Humans have also used grass as forage ment, grasslands in the southern plains were regu­ to native systems, as well as important economic for livestock, grains for food and fl.our, and as mate­ larly disturbed by fire (natural and human-ignited), These landscape-scale agricultural changes were and aesthetic benefits for humans in those systems. rials for basketry and rope. drought, mammal migrations, and grazing by other associated with many smaller-scale events, including Grasses are integral to prairie life and are well­ native ungulates. The vast majority of systems change exotic invasions, damming and pumping for local adapted to fire. The roots of grasses are und r­ Unfortunately, nearly 25 % of all native plant species began with Euro-Am rican settlement, particularly irrigation and development, livestock and human ground and enrich soil by bringing up deep!.' buried in orth America are at risk of becoming extinct, after the passage of !he 1862 Homestead Act. Under traffic, and encroachment by woody shrubs due to minerals and providing channels for rainwat r to largely due to the presence of nonnative species. the Act, a homesteader could claim 160 acres of wildfire suppression. Perhaps most significantly, These nonnative invasives, whether introduced ac­ land, provided they li ved on the land and improved American bison (Bison bison), which contributed to cidentally or intentionally as agricultural crops or it by building a dwelling and sowing a few crops- an shaping the structure of shortgrass prairie communi­ landscape ornamentals, frequently outcompete na­ opportunity toward economic freedom. After five ties, were regionally extirpated by the 1880s. tive species. This leads to individual species loss, vears, the home reader could file for the land deed, Few grasslands are preserved in the southern Great endangering natural habitats, soil erosion, and loss thouah many were abandoned by that time. Since Plains, and many of those that are protected today of genetic diversity necessary for stable, balanced the home eadin era, family farms have gradually ecosystems. Today, much of the prairie is dominated were previously altered. The establishment of wood­ lots, woody shrubs in water corridors, and shelter- Burrowing owls prey on prairie by invasive species associated with anthropogenic dogs and use their burrows for disturbances like fi re suppression and water devel­ belts significantly contributed to the loss of genetic shelter. By preserving prairie dogs, diversity in grasslands, which in turn has led to the we also preserve burrowing owls. opment. decltn-e--of-severa!specre:nh-arwere once abunaarrt -­ but are now considered rare or are listed as threat­ Grasslands of the The southern plains extend south from about Kansas ened, endangered, or of special concern by state southern plains to Texas, and include a variety of grassland ecore­ agencies. Four are known to occur in the Southern gions, each characterized by a distinct group of spe­ Plains Network: burrowing owl (Athene cunicu- cies, relationships between species and processes, laria), black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovi- and environmental conditions, such as precipitation, Increasing conversion to agricult ure, cianus), mountain plover (Charadrius montanus), elevation, and extreme temperatures. Three of these overgrazing, and fire suppression and Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum). threaten the North American pra irie. ecoregions are present in the national park areas of This satellite photo shows Fort Larned The lesser prairie chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinc- the Southern Plains Network: National Historic Site (KS), and the tus) and swift fox (Vulpes velox) may also occur in surrounding area, which is largely converted to agriculture. the southern plains. Western short grasslands lie west of the Texas panhandle and extend north through kla­ The plains have given us some of our most powerful homa and western Kansas. They support one of What are the benefits national images. Yet in a way, those iconic "amber the highest diversities of birds, mammals, and of restoring a small tract waves of grain" are more a reflection of contem­ butterflies in the U.S. However, bird popula­ of land? porary human relationships with the land than of tions that are endemic (native only to a particu­ America' natural beauty. Because it can be hard to lar area) to shortgrass prairie are the fastest-de­ imagine what c.he e rasslands might have looked clining bird populations in North America. like prior ro Euro-American settlement and the in­ About 40% of this ecoregion remains intact. troduction of lar2e- cale agriculture, restoring even mall tract o nari\·e prairie provides us with a win­ Pronghorn antelope have provided food for humans since we Central and southern mixed grasslands entered the plains. Fort Union National Monument (NM). (mi xed-grass prairie) lie in eastern Colorado. dow into our natural heritage that would otherwise ------~~-,=-:;e~1"'rr"'e""'c~o~v~e~ra"'--,-;:e-.ror. 1:.:11Sii'OU!der-high big bluestem sources o oo , medicine, andSpintilalify, as well as western Kansas, and western Oklahoma and (Andropoaon gerardii), and ome of the richest bio­ cultural, aesthetic, educational, and scientific ben­ Texas, and support the highest number of plant diversity in c.h e counrry, restored prairies can provide efits in addition to valuable ecosystem services. species compared to other prairie typ · s be­ cause two ecoregions meet here: the tall and short grasslands. Mixed-grass prairies support The current restoration To preserve native ecosystems, we need to preserve many reptile species and provide important project native plants. Each of the national parks collaborat­ breeding areas for birds and stopover sites for ing on this project i ~ working on individual restora­ migratory birds, particularly in wetland areas. tion projects at their park and creating habitat for About 5% of this ecoregion remain$ intact. native species. At th same time, these parks are sharing knowledge and tools to help other parks The central forest/grassland transition zone, restore similar ecosy terns. To begin the restoration present in Chickasaw National Recreation Area projects, the ational Park Service partnered with and the surrounding area, comprises savanna the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to learn (grasslands with scattered trees), prairie, and from their experience in restoration. Though the woodlands. Most of the ecoregion ha been areas of land being restored by the National Park converted to farmland, including a portion of Service are small, these projects are opportunities to

the park. Less than 1% of this ecoregion share the concept of and knowledge about restora­ To preserve native ecosystems and our natural heritage, we remains intact. tion with visitors, local communities, and the region. need to preserve native plants.

Prairie Restoration in the Southern Plains Prairie Restoration in the Southern Plains How to get started Makea plan volunteers collect seed both by hand and by me­ Thorough planning is one of the most important chanical means, such as a seed harvester. Seed is elements of a successful restoration project. First, the either scattered on the surface of the soil or drilled planning team needs to carefully consider the arell to into it. Alternatively, seeds are germinated and the be restored. The team should identify the types and_ propagated seedlings are planted. In several parks, conditions of plant, animal, and soil communities school groups and volunteers are helping to restore within the restoration site; identify the desired future sites by collecting and sowing seed. As those restored condition and specify goals; create a timeline for the sites become better established, the volunteers will project; and address logistical and administrative be able to return to the parks as visitors and see the issues. To define the desired future condition, the effects of their efforts. Southern Plains Network planning team examined relatively undisturbed "reference sites" within the Restore native processes parks or at nearby protected areas. Restoring native processes can also be important to restoration. The disturbances to the southern plains Because localized ecosystems are integrated with caused by migrating herds of native bison could po­ larger landscapes, it is also important to assess how tentially be mimicked by livestock, or restored with past and current land use by nearby landowners may native ungulates. Judicious use of prescribed fire can affect ecosystem processes, such as animal migra­ also help return natural disturbance regimes to the tions, fire suppression or ignitions, and flooding or prairie. flood control. The f t r ma · haYe ha th current condition of the restoration site and may Follow through continue to influence the site after it is restored. Re toration efforts require commitment and moni­ toring to determine whether adjustments are needed Evaluate restoration techniques over time. In most cases, though, native species form During the planning process, it is necessary to evalu­ self-sustaining plant communities that do not require ate the array of restoration techniques that might e much maintenance once established. Climate change appropriate for the site. Successful techniques for may alter the environmental factors that shape the restoring native vegetation vary by plant species and prairie. Adaptive management- management ad­ the site conditions- often this can mean removing justments made based on the results of continuous or changing a specific disturbance such as invasive monitoring- can be an important tool in caring for plants. For some sites, the parks collect or purchase the restored sites. local sources of native seed for planting. Staff and

Learn from the successes and lessons learned from nearby restoration projects. Contact your local native plant center or National Park Service site to get detail s on restoring a particular site in a specific ecosystem. Park staff and restoration experts worked closely together to carefully plan the restoration project at Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site (CO), shown here.

For more information ... about restoration in the southern plains: see the Parks with active or planned restoration projects in the Learning Center of the American Southwest, southern plains as of 2009: www.southwestlearning.org, or visit a park partici­ Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site (CO) pating in the project (see right), either in person or Chickasaw National Recreation Area (OK) online at www.nps.gov. Fort Larned National Historic Site (KS) . .. about native plants and restoration: see the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (TX) Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park (TX) University of Texas at Austin, www.wildfl.ower.otg, Pecos National Historical Park (NM) Partners in Restoration or contact your local native plant center. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (TX) .. . about general resources on restoration: see the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site (CO) Global Restoration Network, Washita Battlefield National Historic Site (OK) www.globalrestorationnetwork.org.

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™ rev. 7/2009