JUNE 2017• NEBRASKAland 67
cutting cedars from the oak woods
at Ponca State Park. Diverse funding
sources allow the three to also help
manage oak woods and prairies on
private lands and Commission Wildlife
Management Areas (WMA). Baker, for
example, controls unwanted brush at
Wiseman and Basswood WMAs which
overlook the Missouri River in northern
Nebraska while Lang and Brueggemann
help private landowners burn oak woods
in southeastern Nebraska.
The trio's impact at Ponca and Indian
Cave is visibly evident. Tree densities
are lower, the woods are more open,
and ridgetop prairies are expanding.
At Indian Cave, wildflowers not seen
in years, such as bastard toadflax, pale
gentian and butterfly milkweed are
again providing summer color. Perhaps
most exciting, with ample sun-light,
the young oaks now have a chance of
reaching adulthood.
Private Lands
Conservation
Because Nebraska's rural landscape
is 97 percent privately owned, the
Butterfl y milkweed is
one of many wildfl owers
that have responded
well to tree thinning and
prescribed fi re in oak
woodlands at Indian Cave
State Park.
PHOTO
BY
GERRY
STEINAUER
