Nebraskaland

174 Nebraskaland • April 2021 MIXED BAG Our state parks are home to some of Nebraska's most pristine and diverse natural areas, and among these are the rocky, pine woodlands of Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area, the swaying tallgrass prairies of Rock Creek Station State Historical Park and the towering oak woodlands of Indian Cave State Park. These natural wonders entice visitors to the parks to hike, camp and relax. Prior to settlement, these plant communities experienced and became adapted to wildfi res, grazing by bison and other disturbances. Unfortunately, due to tight budgets and busy staff , the native woodlands, prairies and wetlands in many parks have received little land management over the years, and without disturbance, have become stagnant and declined. At Indian Cave and Ponca state parks, located on the Missouri River bluff s, for instance, lack of fi re in the woodlands has allowed fi re-sensitive hackberries, ironwoods and other trees to proliferate. The resulting dense shade stifl ed wildfl owers and halted regeneration of the sun-loving bur, black and other oaks whose seedlings cannot mature under closed canopies. As the older oaks died, they were not being replaced by young oaks. The good news: Change is underway. A partnership between the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's parks and wildlife divisions and the Northern Prairies Land Trust, for instance, has jump-started oak woodland and prairie management at Indian Cave, Ponca and Rock Creek Station. The partners obtained grants from the Nebraska Environmental Trust and other sources allowing Northern Prairies to hire a three ecologists, as well as to pay contractors, to conduct prescribed burning, thin fi re-sensitive trees and control weeds in the parks. Staff dedicated solely to natural area management, and not distracted by day-to-day park activities, has been key to the project's success. After a decade of work, the woods and prairies in the parks are now more open and sunny and fl ush with wildfl owers. Adding frosting to the cake, the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project recently designated these parks, along with Schramm Park State Recreation Area and Niobrara State Park, as "Legacy Demonstration Sites." This designation adds funding for on-the-ground management and to hold fi eld days, seminars and install signage to demonstrate conservation management to visitors and landowners. Niobrara is slated mainly for interseeding and prescribed burning to increase the fl oral diversity in its extensive hilltop prairies overlooking the Niobrara and Missouri rivers. Schramm is slated mainly for management of its Platte River bluff oak woodlands. The Commission hopes funding can be obtained to expand this eff ort to other parks. Woodland and prairie management may cause short-term inconveniences for park visitors, such as closed hiking trails and smoky campgrounds during prescribed burns. These annoyances, however, will be far outweighed by long-term benefi ts, including striking scenic views and more wildlife and colorful wildfl owers to raise their spirits. ENHANCING NATURAL AREAS IN OUR PARKS By Gerry Steinauer, NGPC Botanist A prescribed fi re in the oak woodlands at Indian Cave State Park burns into the night. GERRY STEINAUER, NEBRASKALAND

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