Our Impact
South Dakota: 28 easements for 3,000+ acres in conservation
Nebraska: 8 easements for 4,100+ acres in conservation
NORTHERN PRAIRIES LAND TRUST PLAYS KEY ROLE IN EXPANDING BISON RANGE IN BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK
As the result of a complex land exchange in which Northern Prairie played a key role, 30,000 additional acres of bison range has been added in Badlands National Park, allowing for the expansion of the bison herd to about 1,000 head – the size recommended as a minimum for maintaining genetic diversity. The exchange has been described as one of the most important events in Park history, and a huge step forward in protecting native grasslands species of all kinds.
On June 11, John Davidson, past President of Northern Prairies, joined with other conservation partners and the National Park Service in a formal “fence-cutting” ceremony, celebrating the opening of the new lands to the roaming bison herd.
The project is just one of the many through which Northern Prairies plays a quiet but critical role in advancing prairie conservation.
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 this year, 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.
Local Riparian Easement Programs Rise Again
There are two riparian easement programs operating to protect the local watersheds. The programs involve both a revival of a proven program, the Big Sioux River Conservation Easement Program, now entitled East Dakota Riparian Restoration and Protection Project (EDRRPP), and the initiation of a new program as part of the Central Big Sioux River Watershed Project.
EDRRPP was initiated by East Dakota Water Development District (EDWDD) and is sponsored by Northern Prairies with funding provided through EDWDD and the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources 319 grant program. It will cover the same nine-county area as EDWDD in eastern SD. The Central Big Sioux River Watershed Project is sponsored by the Moody County Conservation District, and Northern Prairies is assisting with the riparian easement aspect of that project. This project will cover the lower portion of the Big Sioux River Watershed and offers a variety of conservation practices in addition to easements.
First Central Big Sioux Riparian Easement
The first riparian easement in the Central Big Sioux River Watershed Project was granted in February on property in Minnehaha County. The Big Sioux River runs through the heavily wooded portion of this property and is subject to significant erosion problems. By agreeing to incorporate the protective buffer the landowner is taking action to help improve water quality in an area just upstream from South Dakota’s largest city, Sioux Falls. The easement was purchased with funding from Sioux Falls.