52 Nebraskaland • March 2021
the recovery of the savanna.
For the past two decades, Rock Glen's prairies have also
been managed with grazing. Using the neighbors' cattle,
pastures are grazed every few years at a moderate stocking
rate for about two months in the spring, summer or early
fall. Like fi re, grazing removes accumulated plant thatch and
allows sunlight to reach the soil and stimulate native plants.
In addition, spring and fall grazing sets back non-native, cool-
season grasses like smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass.
Nature's Recovery
"Recovery of the prairie and woodland at Rock Glen has
been amazing," Seitz said. A few years after the 2006 burn,
prairie plants, including uncommon species such as the
slender and nodding ladies'-tresses orchids and arrowfeather
three-awn, a grass, had colonized formerly cedar-blanketed
hillsides. These plants survived the decades of shade as
seeds in the soil or as stunted plants in narrow, sun-fl ecked
gaps between trees.
The cedar cutting, prescribed fi re and grazing management
Recreation
The scenic and ecologically diverse, but remote,
Rock Glen remains relatively undiscovered by
hikers, birders and other nature enthusiasts. One
group that has discovered the WMA, however, is
deer hunters.
"The parking lots are full on the opening
weekends of the rifle and muzzleloader seasons,"
Seitz said. "Hunters take a lot of deer off the
area." For deer hunters seeking solitude, he
recommends an early-season bow or late-season
muzzleloader hunt during the week. He added
that far fewer turkey and quail hunters visit the
WMA.
A mowed trail starting at the parking lot
in Rock Glen's far southeast corner provides
walking access to its interior. Primitive camping,
with no open fires, is allowed on the WMA.
Modern camp grounds are available at Rock
Creek Station. The area features ruts in the
prairie left by wagons traveling the Oregon Trail,
a restored Pony Express Station and a visitor
center.
Bobwhite quail are among the wildlife now thriving at Rock
Glen.
PHOTO
BY
ERIC
FOWLER
PHOTO
BY
GERRY
STEINAUER
