Loess Hills Restoration Newsletter

Text Box: 12, 000 years ago the Loess Hills were void of trees, inhabited instead by a diverse mosaic of tallgrass prairie. The unique geology, varying slopes and aspects and centralized location have provided a mecca of diversity, a confluence of eastern woodlands and western tallgrass prairies. Sadly, this diverse mosaic is rapidly disappearing. The fine soils have one of the highest erosion rates in the US, up to forty tons per acre are lost every year. Two hundred years ago, Iowa was 75% tallgrass prairie, today less then 0.1% remains. FIFTY PERCENT OF REMAINING PRAIRIE IN IOWA IS FOUND WITHIN THE LOESS HILLS. And 95% of the Loess Hills are owned by private landowners. Private landowners are the prevailing factor in protecting and restoring the bluff prairies. Fire suppression is the biggest threat the prairies face. Without fire, trees and invasive species gradually invade to crowd and shade out the native prairie species. 1—2% of remaining prairie is lost every year to encroaching trees alone. Prairie is

Text Box: further lost to development, cultivation and overgrazing. Restoring a prairie can be a daunting undertaking. Restoration can consist of restoring an existing remnant or reconstructing a prairie where none of the original vegetation remains. Restoring a prairie requires tree removal, invasive species control, and prescribed burning. One advantage of restoring an existing remnant is that a store of native prairie seeds is already present within the soil. The seeds require only some catalyst such as increased sunlight following tree removal or duff removal from prescribed burning to trigger germination. The sooner restoration can begin, the potential increases for an existing high-quality seedbank and the restorability of the site as a whole. A prairie reconstruction requires the same restoration work, as well as planting or interseeding native prairie species. These species should be of local ecotype to avoid issues such as aggressiveness or differences in bloom time of species originating farther than 150 miles from the planting site. Restoring a native prairie offers more than just a legacy for future generations. The prairie seed market—specifically local Loess Hill seed—has grown exponentially in recent years. Wildlife diversity and use and area aesthetics improve. Rare and exciting species may be discovered. The Loess Hills are host to several rare species in Iowa, including the Ornate Box Turtle, Regal Fritillary, Great Plains Skink, Prairie Moonwort and Cowboy’s Delight, among many others. Funding is available to assist in the cost of a prairie restoration project. A brief overview of available programs can be seen on page

Cost-Share Programs for Prairie Restoration	2
Private Lands Conservationist Available	2
Feature Plant and Animal	3
How-To: Cut-Stump Treatment	3
Spring Burn Season	4

Text Box: Prairie Restoration